“Rise in power” is sometimes used instead of “rest in peace” (from Latin Requiescat in pace) to respect someone who has died. “Rest in power” has been used by the African American community to mean that the struggle is not over; the deceased can rest, but gives power to others.
 
“RIP (Rise in Power)” was posted on the newsgroup soc.culture.guinea-conakry on December 11, 1997. “#2pacbirthday is the tag if you ain’t already know. Rise In Power RIP” was posted on X/Twitter by M.C. K~Swift on June 16, 2009. “Maya Angelou: Rise in Power After Living in Purpose” was posted on the blog Awesomely Luvvie on May 18, 2014.
 
“Rise In Power” was posted and explained on Clarion Alley Mural Project on February 1, 2016:
 
“The phrase ‘Rise in Power’ was used in place of ‘Rest in Peace’ for two reasons: 1) there was nothing peaceful about how these people died; and 2) ‘Rest in Peace’ implies closure, and until the police officers who murdered these people are brought to justice and tried as criminals, there is no closure for those who have been murdered at the hands of the police or for their families.  And for society on a whole, there will never be closure until we eradicate systemic racism.”
     
“Rest in power” is a related saying.
   
     
Wikipedia: Rest in peace
The phrase “Rest in peace”, RIP, from Latin Requiescat in pace (Classical Latin: [re.kʷiˈeːs.kat ɪn ˈpaːke], Ecclesiastical Latin: [re.kwiˈɛs.kat in ˈpa.tʃe]) is sometimes used in traditional Christian services and prayers, such as in the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic denominations, sometimes to wish the soul of a decedent eternal rest and peace in Christ.
 
It became ubiquitous on headstones in the 18th century, and is widely used today when mentioning someone’s death.
     
Google Groups: soc.culture.guinea-conakry
RIP (Rise in Power)
Mamadou Barry
Dec 11, 1997, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Marc,
 
Do you mean Rest in Peace or Rise in Power?
 
X/Twitter
M.C. K~Swift
@MCKswift
#2pacbirthday is the tag if you ain’t already know. Rise In Power RIP
5:55 AM · Jun 16, 2009
       
Google Groups: alt.music.michael-jackson
The Redemption: Michael’s Memorial
John Lucas
Jul 7, 2009, 5:28:43 PM
(...)
Michael Joseph Jackson, R.I.P. Rise In Power
Long Live..
¤¤¤~THE KING!!~¤¤¤
   
X/Twitter
petit marronage
@aisha1908
i can’t wait ooooohhhh!!! RT @dumilewis: RIP (Rest in Peace) Dilla! RIP (Rise in Power) Detroit! http://twitpic.com/rhaln
1:51 PM · Nov 29, 2009
 
X/Twitter
MyVerse vs Danny Myers 3/23 in LA‼️
@MyVerse
GURU RIP = RISE IN POWER!! you are now IMMORTAL. Live long through your music!!!
2:36 PM · Apr 20, 2010
   
X/Twitter
Ancient Book of Bitchcraft ✨📖✨
@softjunebreeze
Photo: Lena Horne | June 30, 1917 - May 9, 2010 RIP (Rise In Power) http://tumblr.com/xwc9otr91
12:35 AM · May 10, 2010
   
YouTube
RIP Rise In Power Mixtape Trailer
DJFlatlineTv
Dec 10, 2012
[Watch In 720p for better quality]
RIP Rise In Power Mixtape Trailer Hosted By DJ Flatline
Follow us
@RIPDaShow
@TheRealFlatline
 
Awesomely Luvvie
Maya Angelou: Rise in Power After Living in Purpose
Awesomely Luvvie — May 28, 2014
Maya Angelou is gone and I was not ready. I wasn’t ready because I just figured Mother Maya would stay to give us more words. I figured she’d stay forever and just continue to be magic. I’m so selfish because she’s given more than enough.
       
Clarion Alley Mural Project
Rise In Power
FEBRUARY 1, 2016 / MEGAN WILSON
José V. Guerra Awe:
“Rise In Power depicts an inverted American flag with black and white stripes to give the impression that information is being put down in black and white. The location of the mural is directly across the street from the San Francisco Mission District Police Station. The names within the stripes are those of a small fraction of unarmed Hispanic and African American civilians that have been murdered by the police throughout the US, over the past several years.

The lack of spaces between the names represent: 1) These murders appear to be a perpetual cycle, and are almost common place; 2) These are all one people; they suffered the same fate; and 3) In the eyes of racist and corrupt police officers, they are one people: they are black or brown, which to them equals: criminal.

The use of the inverted American flag (an international symbol of distress) features stars in the shape and color of police stars, providing a point of entry for discussion about the Police State that the USA finds itself in currently, as well as a protest against police brutality and abuse of power. Moreover, the mural is a memorial, for the people whose names comprise every stripe, and the near countless more that have been, and continue to be, murdered by the police, throughout the country. Thus it reads, “Rise in Power, Brothers and Sisters.” The phrase “Rise in Power” was used in place of “Rest in Peace” for two reasons: 1) there was nothing peaceful about how these people died; and 2) “Rest in Peace” implies closure, and until the police officers who murdered these people are brought to justice and tried as criminals, there is no closure for those who have been murdered at the hands of the police or for their families.  And for society on a whole, there will never be closure until we eradicate systemic racism.
       
X/Twitter
James Blanchard 🌵
@jkbtjc_53
RIP to the legendary OG, Dick Gregory.. Rise In Power..
10:25 PM · Aug 19, 2017
   
YouTube
R. I. P.(rise in poWER)
Larry Coldsweat
Mar 12, 2018
the mind healers
listen on your headphones 4 dramatic life changes stay cool
 
X/Twitter
sʟɴᴛᴢ.
@sleentz
REST IN POWER
RISE IN POWER
@NipseyHussle
YOUR SPIRIT LIVES ON FOREVER
🙏🏾
3:07 PM · Apr 1, 2019
   
YouTube
R.I.P BlackThe Ripper (Rise in Power) FREE THE WEED
Inhale Light Exhale Love
Dec 13, 2020
Black the Ripper walking his plants through London, gets harassment from police. Troll station re-edit. FREE THE WEED!
Dank of England.
 
X/Twitter
From Palestine to Cop City We Will Be Free
@BrainsNGrenades
The first time yall heard “rise in power/rest in power” was 2014?
That explains a lot lmao
6:50 PM · Feb 26, 2024
 
X/Twitter
Thandisizwe Chimurenga
@idabeewells
Rest In Power, Rise In Power Aaron Bushnell.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
3:43 PM · Feb 27, 2024