Atlanta's "Hype Me Up" dancer moves in total silence
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Joseph Fogg performs onstage during 2025's Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash at State Farm Arena. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images
If you come across a guy wearing boots, a white tank top and sunglasses dancing without any music, you're likely watching Joseph Fogg film his popular "Hype Me Up" videos, which have gone viral over the last year.
Why it matters: Fogg is among several eclectic personalities and content creators around Atlanta who use social media not just to promote themselves, but to shape how people experience — and enjoy — the city.
- Beltline Kevin zips around the popular trail in skates and serenades crowds.
- Cody Randall sets up along the Beltline to offer free legal advice.
- Hood Anchor Ye reports the news in his own distinct way from crime scenes around the metro area.
The intrigue: Fogg's videos stand out because he doesn't sing or speak; he simply dances like no one is watching.
- He begins by holding his foot — shod in a slightly dirty Timberland boot — in front of the camera.
- Once he moves into frame, he dances to Flippa T's "Affirmations" playing through his earbuds.
- Only Fogg can hear the music — bystanders see a man dancing intensely in silence.
What they're saying: Fogg told Axios he began recording the Hype Me Up videos in February 2025 and his followers loved it.
- He tries to film in a variety of places, including airports and parts of town where people are less likely to know who he is.
- He was also greeted with excitement from students at his alma mater, Dutchtown High School in Henry County, when he filmed an impromptu video in the front office.
- Fogg said he's amused by the mix of reactions of bystanders: annoyance, bewilderment or downright joy.
- "But at the end of the video, it's like people just end up laughing," Fogg said. "If they're not laughing, it looks like … like they got a little smirk, or they are trying hard not to laugh."
Zoom in: Fogg's clothing choices vary, but he always rocks his Timberlands.
- Sometimes he'll wear shorts or long pants. When it's warmer, he often dances without shirts. In early December, he wore coveralls (with a Santa cap protruding from a pocket), gloves and a beanie while dancing in the cold.
- Fogg said he chose the laid-back look because he wants to keep the videos original and encourage people to embrace the "goofiness" of what he's doing.
The bottom line: Fogg, who is also a Fashion Nova brand ambassador, told Axios he didn't expect that videos of him dancing along to a song he liked would catch on and delight so many people.
- "I didn't know how powerful this was going to be," he said. "What I wanted was just to make everybody feel good and make everybody happy."