Every Founder Needs a Hype Song

Everybody needs one.
A hype song.
Athletes use them.
Artists use them.
Founders should too.

Some people pretend they don’t. They’re lying.
I got my first hype song in 2007. Lupe Fiasco’s Superstar. It gave my public speaking and business building an immediate burst of energy. Not confidence exactly. Momentum.

It woke something up.
A hype song is not about taste. It’s about response.
Mine changes over time. That’s fine. Yours will too.

Right now, I lean on a steady diet of 90s hip hop and hard rock:

Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest
Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim
Boom – P.O.D.
Stay Fly – Three 6 Mafia
Return of the Mack – Mark Morrison

There is no wrong choice. The only rule is this: you know it when you hear it.

Your hype song moves you.
It puts you on a roll.
It nudges you into a different gear.

Here’s how you know you’ve found the right one:
What song fires you up or makes you happy every time you hear it?
What song do you never get tired of hearing?
What song makes you want to stand up and move?
What song motivates you every single time?

That’s the one.

I start mine early. Sometimes days before a big talk or a new launch. Sometimes the morning of. At the very least, it's playing before I walk on stage, hit record, or send the email.

But hype songs aren’t just for public speaking or building.
Need a lift? Press play.
Dragging? Press play.
Looking for an extra gear? Press play.
Want to turn a good mood into a great one? Press play.

The long-term move is to build a small playlist you can rely on. Not just for presentations, but for life.

A hype song is part of your pregame.
Part of your reset.
Part of your rhythm.
What’s your hype song?