HiiiPower
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

Everybody put three fingers in the air
Rally together and show solidarity against the oppressors.

The sky is falling, the wind is calling
The world is in upheaval, and change is imminent.

Stand for something or die in the morning
Fighting against injustice is worth the risk of death.

Section.80, HiiiPoWeR
This song is part of Kendrick's album Section.80, which espouses the concept of HiiiPoWeR, a movement for self-empowerment and resistance against oppression.

Visions of Martin Luther staring at me
I am inspired by the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight for civil rights.

Malcolm X put a hex on my future, someone catch me
Malcolm X's revolutionary spirit and message has influenced my worldview and my place in society.

I'm falling victim to a revolutionary song
Activist music has incited me to action and protest.

The Serengeti's clone
Kendrick sees himself as a formidable presence, like a lion in the African savanna.

Back to put you backstabbers back on your spinal bone
Kendrick will not tolerate betrayal from those close to him.

You slipped your disc when I slid you my disc
His music is potent enough to inflict physical harm on his haters.

You wanted to diss but jumped on my dick
Critics and imitators try to bring him down, but ultimately they follow his lead.

Grown men never should bite they tongue
One should always speak out against injustice and inequality.

Unless you eating pussy that smell like it's a stale plum
The only exception to this rule is when performing oral sex on someone who is unclean or unpleasant.

I got my finger on the motherfucking pistol
Kendrick is ready to fight back physically against those who oppress him or his community.

Aiming it at a pig, Charlotte's Web is gonna miss you
Kendrick takes aim at corrupt law enforcement with the same precision as a spider web.

My issue isn't televised and you ain't gotta tell the wise
The problems facing his community are not given fair coverage in mainstream media, and he doesn't need to explain it to those who already understand.

How to stay on beat because our life's an instrumental
The rhythm of life is similar to music, and it is important to stay true to oneself and one's values to make the most of it.

This is physical and mental, I won't sugar coat it
Overcoming adversity requires both physical and mental strength, and he won't sugarcoat the struggle it takes to do so.

You'll die from diabetes if these other niggas wrote it
Other rappers' lyrics are filled with artificial sweetness, but the reality of the world is bitter and harsh.

And everything on TV just a figment of imagination
The media is not an accurate representation of reality and can be misleading and false.

I don't want a plastic nation, dread that like a Haitian
He doesn't want a society that is artificial and fake, as well as the negative connotations that come with a colonialist power with Haiti.

While you motherfuckers waiting
While others wait for change to happen, Kendrick is taking action.

I be off the slave ship, building pyramids, writing my own hieroglyphs
Kendrick sees himself as a modern-day freedom fighter, rising above the chains of oppression to create his own history.

Just call the shit HiiiPower
He wants to give a name to the movement of self-empowerment and resistance against oppression that he and others like him are a part of.

Nigga, nothing less than HiiiPower
He won't accept anything less than full self-empowerment and resistance against oppression.

Five star dishes, food for thought, bitches
His music is both nourishing and satisfying, like a five-star meal.

I mean this shit is Huey Newton going stupid
His activism is inspired by the Black Panther leader Huey Newton and his fierce resistance against the system.

You can't resist his HiiiPower
His message is powerful and impossible to ignore.

Throw your hands up for HiiiPower
Join him in the movement of self-empowerment and resistance against oppression.

We've been down for too long, but that's all right
Despite the centuries of oppression and injustice, his community is strong and resilient.

We was built to be strong 'cause it's our life, na-na-na
His community was chosen by fate to experience such hardships, but they will overcome and thrive nonetheless.

Who said a black man in Illuminati?
He challenges the racist and paranoid conspiracy theory that black people are not in positions of power in society.

Last time I checked, that was the biggest racist party
He sees the Illuminati conspiracy theory as a manifestation of racism and white supremacy.

Last time I checked, we was racin' with Marcus Garvey
He seeks to honor historical figures like Marcus Garvey, who fought for black liberation and empowerment.

On the freeway to Africa 'til I wrecked my Audi
He imagines himself traveling to Africa, the cradle of civilization and black culture, but is also aware of the materialistic pitfalls of contemporary society.

And I want everybody to view my autopsy
He is willing to sacrifice his own life to advance his message and inspire others to continue his work.

So you can see exactly where the government had shot me
He believes that corrupt officials and institutions will try to silence him, even if it means killing him.

No conspiracy, my fate is inevitable
He doesn't see his death as a part of a grand conspiracy, but rather as an eventuality of his activism.

They played musical chairs, once I'm on that pedestal
In this system, those in power will try to suppress and co-opt dissent, including Kendrick's message and platform.

Enough to drive a man insane, a woman insane
The oppression and injustice in society can be maddening and debilitating for anyone, regardless of gender.

The reason Lauryn Hill don't sing or Kurt Cobain
Lauryn Hill stopped making music, and Kurt Cobain committed suicide, due in part to the pressures of fame and public demand.

Loaded that clip and then said bang
He is ready to fight back against those who oppress him with deadly force if necessary.

The drama it bring is crazy
The drama and intensity of his activism and resistance can be overwhelming and insane.

Product of the late eighties
Kendrick grew up in a time of social and political upheaval in the United States, which influenced his worldview and music.

Tryna stay above water, that's why we shun the Navy
He wants to resist the violence and imperialism of the US military, which he sees as a tool of oppression and colonization.

Pull your guns and play me
He challenges his enemies to fight him, but is also calling attention to the violence and gun culture in American society.

Let's set it off, cause a riot, throw a Molotov
He is willing to foment mass action and violence against the system and its enforcers.

Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
He dismisses the negative stereotypes and myths about his community as ridiculous and outdated, like the idea of African pirates.

Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs
His community has its own history, art, and culture that is distinct and independent of the dominant white society.

Just call this shit HiiiPower
He reiterates the importance of self-empowerment and resistance against oppression in this chorus.

Yeah, nothing less than HiiiPower
He won't accept anything less than full self-empowerment and resistance against oppression.

I mean the shit is, Bobby Seale making meals
His message is revolutionary and empowering, much like the activism and community building of Black Panther leader Bobby Seale.

You can't resist his HiiiPower
His message is powerful and impossible to ignore.

Throw your hands up for HiiiPower
Join him in the movement of self-empowerment and resistance against oppression.

We've been down for too long, but that's all right
Despite the centuries of oppression and injustice, his community is strong and resilient.

We was built to be strong 'cause it's our life, na-na-na
His community was chosen by fate to experience such hardships, but they will overcome and thrive nonetheless.

Thug life, thug life
A reference to Tupac Shakur and his message of resistance and self-empowerment.