HiiiPower by Kendrick Lamar (2011): Lyrics & Meaning

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, born in Compton, California in 1987, has become one of hip-hop’s most significant voices.

Beginning his career under the name K-Dot, Lamar gained attention with early mixtapes before signing with Top Dawg Entertainment.

His thoughtful lyrics, technical skill, and social commentary have earned him multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.” Lamar’s work frequently examines racial inequality, personal growth, and community struggles.

About the Song

“HiiiPoWeR” was released in 2011 as the lead single from Kendrick Lamar’s independent album “Section.80.” The track was produced by J. Cole, marking an early collaboration between two artists who would become major figures in hip-hop.

The song introduces the HiiiPoWeR movement, which centers on mental liberation and social awareness.

With its steady beat and Lamar’s sharp delivery, the song serves as both a personal statement and a call to action.

Information	Details
Release Date	April 12, 2011
Album	Section.80
Producer	J. Cole
Label	Top Dawg Entertainment
Length	4:39
Genre	Conscious Hip-Hop
Key	G Minor
Themes	Social consciousness, self-determination, resistance

Hiiipower Lyrics by Kendrick Lamar

Intro
Everybody put three fingers in the air
The sky is falling, the wind is calling
Stand for something or die in the morning
Section.80, HiiiPoWeR

Verse 1
Visions of Martin Luther staring at me
Malcolm X put a hex on my future, someone catch me
I’m falling victim to a revolutionary song, the Serengeti’s clone
Back to put you backstabbers back on your spinal bone

You slipped your disc when I slid you my disc
You wanted to diss, but jumped on my dick
Grown men never should bite their tongue
Unless you eatin’ pussy that smell like it’s a stale plum

I got my finger on the motherfuckin’ pistol
Aimin’ it at a pig, Charlotte’s web is gonna miss you
My issue isn’t televised and you ain’t gotta tell the wise
How to stay on beat, because our life’s an instrumental

This is physical and mental, I won’t sugarcoat it
You’d die from diabetes if these other niggas wrote it
And everything on TV just a figment of imagination
I don’t want a plastic nation, dread that like a Haitian

While you motherfuckers waiting, I be off the slave ship
Building pyramids, writing my own hieroglyphs

Chorus 1
Just call the shit HiiiPoWeR
Nigga, nothing less than HiiiPoWeR
Five-star dishes, food for thought, bitches
I mean this shit is

Huey Newton going stupid, you can’t resist his
HiiiPoWeR
Throw your hands up for HiiiPoWeR

Verse 2
Visions of Martin Luther staring at me
If I see it how he seen it, that would make my parents happy
Sorry, mama, I can’t turn the other cheek
They wanna knock me off the edge like a fuckin’ widow’s peak, uh

And she always told me pray for the weak, uh
Them demons got me, I ain’t prayed in some weeks, uh
Dear Lord, come save me, the devil’s working hard
He probably clockin’ double shifts on all of his jobs

Frightenin’, so fuckin’ frightenin’
Enough to drive a man insane, I need a license to kill
I’m standing on a field full of land mines
Doin’ the moonwalk, hopin’ I blow up in time

‘Cause 2012 might not be a fuckin’ legend
Tryna be a fuckin’ legend, the man of mankind
Who said a Black man in the Illuminati?
Last time I checked, that was the biggest racist party

So get up off that slave ship
Build your own pyramids, write your own hieroglyphs

Chorus 2
Just call the shit HiiiPoWeR
Nigga, nothing less than HiiiPoWeR
Five-star dishes, food for thought, bitches
I mean this shit is

Bobby Seale makin’ meals, you can’t resist his
HiiiPoWeR
Throw your hands up for HiiiPoWeR

Bridge
Every day, we fight the system just to make our way
We been down for too long, but that’s alright
We was built to be strong, ’cause it’s our life, na-na-na

Every day, we fight the system, we fight the system
We fight the system (Never like the system)
We been down for too long, but that’s alright, na-na-na

Verse 3
Who said a Black man in the Illuminati?
Last time I checked, that was the biggest racist party
Last time I checked, we was racin’ with Marcus Garvey
On the freeway to Africa ’til I wreck my Audi

And I want everybody to view my autopsy
So you can see exactly where the government had shot me
No conspiracy, my fate is inevitable
They play musical chairs once I’m on that pedestal

Frightenin’, so fuckin’ frightenin’
Enough to drive a man insane, a woman insane
The reason Lauryn Hill don’t sing, or Kurt Cobain
Loaded that clip and then said bang

The drama it bring is crazy, product of the late ’80s
Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the Navy
Pull your guns and play me, let’s set it off
‘Cause a riot, throw a Molotov

Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
‘Cause we been off them slave ships
Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs

Chorus 3
Just call the shit HiiiPoWeR
Yeah, nothing less than HiiiPoWeR
Five-star dishes, food for thought, bitches
I mean this shit is

Fred Hampton on your campus, you can’t resist his
HiiiPoWeR
Throw your hands up for HiiiPoWeR

Outro
Thug life
Thug life

Meaning Behind the Song

“HiiiPoWeR” serves as a manifesto for mental liberation and social consciousness. The song’s title, with its three “i”s, represents Heart, Honor, and Respect – core values of the movement Lamar proposes.

“Everybody put three fingers in the air… Section.80, HiiiPoWeR”

This opening establishes the physical symbol of solidarity—three fingers representing the three “i”s in HiiiPoWeR—and connects the concept to Lamar’s generation.

“Visions of Martin Luther staring at me, Malcolm X put a hex on my future”

Lamar positions himself as inheriting the mantle from civil rights leaders, suggesting their legacies both inspire and burden him with responsibility.

“While you motherfuckers waiting, I be off the slave ship, building pyramids, writing my own hieroglyphs”

This central metaphor contrasts escaping oppressive systems versus creating independent cultural frameworks, encouraging self-determination rather than accepting imposed structures.

“Who said a Black man in the Illuminati? Last time I checked, that was the biggest racist party”

Lamar rejects conspiracy theories about Black success, pointing instead to systemic racism in established institutions as the real problem.

“Every day, we fight the system just to make our way, we been down for too long”

This emphasizes the continuous struggle against oppression, connecting individual experiences to broader historical patterns of resistance against injustice.

“Last time I checked, we was racin’ with Marcus Garvey on the freeway to Africa”

Referencing the Black nationalist leader connects current movements to historical Black liberation philosophy, suggesting continuity in the struggle.

“The reason Lauryn Hill don’t sing, or Kurt Cobain loaded that clip”

Lamar acknowledges the mental toll of activism and fame, referencing artists who retreated from public life due to societal pressures.

“Thug life”

The closing reference pays homage to Tupac Shakur’s philosophy (The Hate U Give Little Infants F*cks Everybody), suggesting societal problems create cycles affecting everyone.

Similar Songs

“HiiiPoWeR” belongs to a tradition of thought-provoking hip-hop focused on social awareness. If you enjoyed this track, consider these similar works.

• “Ronald Reagan Era” is from Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80 album and looks at the crack epidemic through the eyes of a young person. The track stands out with its raw storytelling, a sample from Three Dog Night, and a guest vocal from RZA.
• “Be Free” by J. Cole was released as a single in 2014 and became a powerful reaction to the Ferguson shooting. It’s a quiet, emotional piece with a simple piano backdrop, highlighting themes of police violence and injustice.
• “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar is part of To Pimp a Butterfly and became an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. With its jazz influenes and strong lyrics, it feels like a modern version of past civil rights songs, earning two Grammy awards.
• “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy is a classic from 1990 that appeared in a Spike Lee film. It boldly addresses racism and power systems, using a layered, sample-heavy production that still hits hard today.
• “Mathematics” by Mos Def appears on Black on Both Sides and uses numbers and statistics to show real-world inequality. The beat comes from DJ Premier, and the lyrics blend sharp facts with strong wordplay.

  These tracks continue hip-hop’s legacy as a platform for meaningful social commentary.

Live Performance

Watch Kendrick Lamar “HiiiPoWer” Live at the FADER FORT Presented by Converse.

Similar Artists

For those who connect with Kendrick Lamar’s thoughtful lyricism and social commentary in “HiiiPoWeR,” these artists offer similar depth in their work:

• J. Cole is a North Carolina rapper known for honest storytelling and soulful beats. Key albums include 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 4 Your Eyez Only, and The Off-Season.
• Joey Bada$ brings classic boom-bap vibes from Brooklyn, with standout albums like 1999, B4.DA.$, and ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADASS.
• Rapsody is a sharp lyricist from North Carolina who blends hip-hop with soul. Top projects include Laila’s Wisdom, Eve, and The Idea of Beautiful.
• Isaiah Rashad raps from a personal place, often touching on mental health. His best-known albums are Cilvia Demo, The Sun’s Tirade, and The House Is Burning.
• Noname is a Chicago poet known for jazz-influenced, thoughtful rap. Her key works include Telefone, Room 25, and Factory Baby.

Looking into these artists opens a doorway to hip-hop that values meaningful storytelling, social awareness, and artistic innovation while maintaining cultural relevance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is the Meaning of Section.80?

“Section.80” refers to people born in the 1980s, examining how crack cocaine and government policies affected this generation.

What Does the Name Hiii Po We R Mean?

HiiiPoWeR represents “Heart, Honor, and Respect” – the three “i”s symbolizing these values in a movement focusing on mental awareness.

What Does Pimping a Butterfly Mean?

The phrase refers to transforming something beautiful yet fragile into something profitable, commenting on how art and culture can be exploited.