By Sophia Yodice
At Bagels n’ Grinds, manager Robert Hawkins doesn’t just call out orders; he rhymes them. “Time to dine for number nine,” he shouts, the kind of off-the-cuff lyric that turned him into Hype Hizzle, a campus-famous personality whose blend of positivity, poetry and hype videos has become part of the University of Maryland experience.
“I’m hyper, I’m all about positivity and good vibes, and just seeing how people take that, it still amazes me,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins arrived on the local bagel scene in 2015 at the now-closed Bagel Place, where a group of Tri Deltas, whom he considered to be family, sparked his first viral moment by asking him to rap for their sorority. The video took off, Hype Hizzle was born — and the rest is history.
What started as rhyming order numbers grew into motivational poetry, sorority shoutouts and eventually, a full-fledged social media presence.
“Once the juices start flowing, I really can’t stop it,” Hawkins said.
When Bagel Place shut down in 2021, Bagels n’ Grinds, which was once its direct competitor after its opening in 2017, welcomed Hawkins immediately. Nervous at first, he settled in quickly, returning to freestyle raps, hype messages and spontaneous performances.
His energy soon transformed the shop. One employee said it makes every shift easier.
“It’s pretty easy to show up and get to work when you have a manager like him … great manager, great person. What else is there to say?” he said.
First-time visitors felt the impact too.
“I think I really value that in customer service, someone who likes to work,” junior Autumn Brooks, a double major in cell biology and genetics and Spanish, and a first-time visitor at Bagels n’ Grinds, said.
Regulars often return for Hawkins’ uplifting energy as well.
“It’s always enjoyable to come here and have a good morning because everyone here is so positive and fun,” Abby Shea, a junior English major and professional writing minor, said.
Shea’s day was brightened when she was offered a free chai by Hawkins, she said.
Hawkins’ reach stretches far past the bagel line. He now makes hype videos for sororities nationwide, studying their symbols and colors before filming. He fields about 50 requests a day, from birthday raps to athlete hype messages, such as: “You are the elite, complete athlete, from your head to your feet, because on that field, you bring the heat.”
“There’s nothing negative to say about him,” Alyssa Brunetto, a junior psychology major and member of the Delta Gamma sorority, said.
Sydney Boyriven, a sophomore philosophy, politics and economics and communications major, and a member of Delta Gamma, said a single rhymed order, and the infamous “hype button,” turned her good mood into a great one.
“I walked in here in a pretty good mood, but then he was rhyming while he was taking my order, and he brought out the hype button for me, and I was like, today’s going to be a great day,” Boyriven said.
For many students, his presence is personal. Alum Cassidy Gitch, who graduated with a degree in animal science, met him as a sophomore.
“Coming into college out of state, it can be hard to find a sense of community,” she said. “Luckily, he reminded me that if you stick to your true self, the right people will gravitate towards you … #werunrouteone.”
Hawkins now draws additional alumni back to the shop and has even influenced prospective students; one high school senior told him Hype Hizzle helped convince him to attend UMD — an emotional exchange that defined his social presence, according to Hawkins.
“That was the highlight of my year,” he said.
In addition to his various social media outlets, he’s been featured on the Big Ten Network, The Today Show, NBC Today and FOX 5 DC, and hopes for a future partnership with Under Armour. His motto, “Believe the Hype,” once appeared on Adidas outlet shirts alongside his acronym “H.Y.P.E.,” which stands for Heighten Your Potential Every day.
His ultimate dream? A national Greek-life hype tour. Until then, Hawkins is right where he thrives, behind the counter, instrumentals in his head, rhymes ready to go and a campus community that believes in the hype.
Featured Image: Students walking on McKeldin Mall. Photo by Monique James.