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The Making of Lil B

But who really is Lil B? We know he grew up in Berkeley, California, started rapping with The Pack, broke hip hop, invented the cooking dance, cursed James Harden and Kevin Durant, lectured at MIT and NYU, and published a self-help book. But we still don’t know why Lil B is the way he is.

 

In an exclusive interview with office, Lil B details his upbringing, family life, earliest memories, and most formative experiences.

 

What’s your first memory?

 

Probably my first time being constipated. There were at least three days before I could take a shit. It was some unique times.

 

That's rough.

 

Yeah, but it's just learning your body. Like eventually, when I went to the bathroom, no one could stop me. I was ready for anything at that point. 

Did your parents sing you any lullabies as a baby? 

 

Yeah, but none that I specifically remember. I just know my mom always had great melodies and great harmonies, so she definitely played a huge part in me being an artist. She had great music taste too. She really loves Lenny Kravitz, DEVO, and New Edition. 

 

How's your relationship with your dad?

 

It's healthy. I can talk to him any time. He has a girlfriend who he's been with for damn near 20, 30 years. He's always been with her and always lived in the same place in San Francisco. It's a real blessing. Whoever his landlord is is pretty cool, man. That's the definition of rent control like there. He's sitting on a million dollar home, and he's got a backyard, so you know it's real. It's a unique relationship, me and my dad, but that's how I like to keep stuff - weird, out of the norm. 

 

What was middle school like for you?

 

I was just learning about social hierarchies, and time, and being on my own. They were great times, that I want to say I'd never forget, but right now it's a little spotty. 

 

What's something that you wish was taught in school? 

 

Tax stuff, like an introduction to taxes. 

 

I thought you were going to say self-acceptance or love or something like that, but you make a solid point. What's the best and worst thing about being from Berkeley?

 

The best thing is the thinkers. You've got a lot of cool people from Berkeley to hang your hat on, and really be inspired by. I was talking to a gentleman and he was telling me about this book called When Elephants Weep, which is about animals’ emotions, and that author's from Berkeley. Also I heard they’re working on an atomic bomb in Berkeley now. We got real legendary scientists, architects, and thinkers. 

 

I can't really think of a bad thing about being from Berkeley. I will say the entry level to move out there is not the easiest if you're starting from zero with wealth. It goes back to learning taxes when we're younger. There should be a real estate class, too. These things could prepare us. 

 

Were you always The Based God? Or was there a moment you became The Based God? 

 

I always was Lil B, Brandon McCartney, but The Based God came about when I was based freestyling in the studio one day, and it hit me. I am the god of based. I am The Based God. I'm the most based out here. And I take pride in being based, which is being yourself, not caring what people think, and letting your thoughts flow and come to you. I'm the ultimate at doing that, and it's been history ever since. 

 

During your childhood, what album impacted you the most? 

 

Too many! My Life by Mary J. Blige, or Brandy's first album. And as far as rappers, Too Short, Keak Da Sneak, E-40, Clyde Carson, Kaz Kaiser, Mayne Mannish, and Mistah F.A.B. They changed my life and opened my perspective on music. They made me want to share my experience, make songs, and make people happy. 

 

What have you been listening to lately? 

 

Mostly staying with the classics, like Soulja Boy, DMX, and Nas, but for the new generation, I listen to Lil Yachty, Lil Peep, and Lil Gotit. Music is in a beautiful place now where it's pretty accessible. As long as you got your phone bill paid, you got some music to listen to. 

Are there any rappers who just make you want to rap?

 

Yeah for sure. Older Eminem, Lil Wayne, Beanie Seagel, they just make me want to go in. 

 

You changed rap forever, and it's cool to see your influence coming back now. Like last year, you dropped “Waiting Here” with Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. That was a full-circle moment, seeing the lineage of “based” spread far and wide, spark other sounds and genres, and then come back to you, the source. 

 

Wow. Shoutout to Wicca. He's a huge legend and a positive guy. Nothing but love and respect for him. I have a lot more stuff coming, with collaborations, and cool artworks, too. The Based God, he just produced a single for Del the Funky Homosapien that's going to drop soon.

 

Oh man! 

 

Yeah, I just produced it, I didn't rap on it, but Del went crazy with the lyrics. You just feel like you're on another planet. I can't wait to release that in the next week or two. You’re the first person on Earth to know about that. 

 

Word. That's legendary. What else do you have lined up next?

 

My new mixtape, which I'm proud of, Bruno with the Pruno, is out right now on Spotify. I'm waiting for it to get on Apple Music, YouTube, and all that. So stay tuned. I'm getting a lot of great feedback. People are saying this is that classic 2010 Lil B sound, and that it sounds like a thesis. It took me three to four months to write that tape, just compiling my thoughts, letting life take its course, and chronicling what was going on. So I’m really happy about it. 

 

What inspires you these days? 

 

Life. I got a lot to say and I'm not finished. There's more about me for people to understand, so every project I drop, I hope to bring people closer. People really don't know me, they only have an idea from what I've been releasing so far. Some people understand from the core, but it's still just a start. It's really just a start.

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