Analyzing What We Say

Analyzing What We Say: Kendrick Lamar Edition

In today's world of hip-hop, lyrics are often overlooked due to hard hitting beats and catchy hooks. Most people do not sit down and listen to what the artist is REALLY saying. The truth behind the matter is that every rapper places his words specifically, whether it is to finish a rhyme or to convey a serious point. As fans, we have to view hip-hop as an art, because that is what it really is. Hip-hop is a vocal expression of how one is feeling, what they are doing, what they want to accomplish, and so on. 

(Kendrick Lamar, hiphollywood.com)

One artist that is very talented at expressing himself through music is Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick seems to have the perfect balance of storytelling, consciousness, and vocally appealing music. My favorite aspect of Kendrick is his ability to explain his true message through simple lyrics. 

I am going to analyze the hook and first verse of the song, "HiiiPower," like one would analyze any other piece of literature. 

Kendrick begins the song by stating "Put three fingers in the air." Some might think it represents the West side, because Kendrick is from Compton. The three fingers actually represent HiiiPower, which is a revolutionary idea by Kendrick. HiiiPower is a movement that is trying to allow people to think openly and freely. The three fingers and three 'I's' represent honor, heart, and respect. Kendrick continues on saying "Stand for something or die in the morning." This is the message of HiiiPower is a nutshell.

(Kendrick in NYC with fans throwing up the HiiiPower sign. str8NYC.com)

After a short instrumental break, Kendrick begins by alluding to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, two very influential characters in African American history. Kendrick continues on by saying "grown men should never bite their tongue." That single bar is the epitome of HiiiPower. In layman's terms, Kendrick is saying speak your mind, don't hold back.

Hip-hop is often judged for it's outrageous violence, absurd language, misogynistic lyrics, and homophobia. Well, this next line does not do hip-hop much justice, but it does prove that artists use these ideals to create true messages in their lyrics. 

Kendrick states "I got my finger on the mothafuckin' pistol, aiming at a pig, Charlotte's Web is gonna miss you." Obviously, a pig is refering to a police officer. The allusion to 'Charlotte's Web' is a clever way of relating to the listeners. Also, this line shows the harsh relationship between African Americans and police officers. 

Kendrick follows up by thrashing the government. "And everything on TV is just a figment of imagination, I don't want a plastic nation." Kendrick believes that the government is feeding us bullshit and that everything on TV is made up, or fake. Kendrick created HiiiPower to stop this "plastic nation" through self-enlightenment. 

Kendrick ends his verse by saying "While you mothafuckas waiting, I be off the slave ship. Building pyramids  writing my own hieroglyphs." In my opinion, this is the most powerful line in the song. It shows that Kendrick's skin color cannot hold him back to do great and historical things. The slave ship alludes to his skin tone, while writing hieroglyphs and building pyramids refers to revolutionary times in our history. 

Kendrick begins the hook with "just call this shit HiiiPower, n*gga nothin' less than HiiiPower." This line alludes to the movement and how there is nothing like it. The next line, "Five-star dishes, food for thought bitches," is a metaphor that compares classy, five-star dishes to the ideas and thoughts that Kendrick are 'feeding' his listeners. Next, Kendrick also alludes to the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Huey Newton. The reference to Huey Newton shows Kendrick's support of the ideas of the Black Panther Party: against racism and for cultural expansion. Kendrick ends the hook with "throw your hands up for HiiiPower," again referring to the HiiiPower hand sign. 

Analyzing a rapper's lyrics allows the listener to get a personal feel with the artist. When the listener digs deep into lyrics, they find the true meaning within. Analyzing lyrics allows critics to look past all the "problems" with hip-hop and realize the influential power that music holds. 

(All lyrics taken from rapgenius.com)