The Return of Based God: Lil B on Based Meditations and the Secret Love Agenda **VERY RARE** *IN-DEPTH AND PERSONAL**

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

Shout out to the hackers, shout out to the vegans, and big shout out to love. After his visit to Tucson, we caught up with Lil B in a phone interview to learn valuable Based life lessons from his secret love agenda. We discussed practicing self-care, staying humble, settling differences, as well as channeling The Based God back in for the upcoming Options mixtape. 

You’ve described Based Freestyling as a very fluid, unconscious process. Would you consider Based Freestyling as a form of meditation? How has it helped you reached higher Based truths?

Absolutely, there's definitely parallels between meditation and Based freestyling. Honestly, getting Based in general is a form of meditation. When things start getting heavy in my life, I like to fully immerse myself in music. Whenever I get Based, I get really relaxed and let the music and vibes move my thoughts and where I want to be going. There are a lot of parallels with that, so that’s definitely a true observation.


Like everyone, you have multiple distinct aspects to your personality. There’s Brandon, there’s Lil B, and Based God. How do you find harmony with these selves, your past selves, etc. in order to the best version of your current self?

There’s a lot I could say on that, but it all comes down to inspiration. I always just try to live in the moment, and I take the inspiration that’s carrying me and just go with it. Whether I feel like Brandon, Lil B, or Based God, I feel harmony by just rolling with the vibes and always making sure that I have fun no matter what part of my personality I’m living in.


You did an art show earlier this year featuring some of your photography where you gave everything away for free to the attendees. I’m sure it was hard to give away some of your work, so what did you learn from this process in terms of letting go and attachment?

The biggest takeaway was learning to be humble. This art was very personal to me, so I had to just get comfortable real fast with the idea of letting it all go.  I think having my first show like this be in my hometown of Berkeley made that process a lot easier because I felt real connected and grounded there. I really gave it all away though - my photography, my drawings, and even my keyboard I used on my last two mixtapes. It’s been a really unique time in my life that I’ve gotten to experiment with art in this way. I’m excited to figure out what’s next and how I can incorporate technology in with this media too. I might be doing more projects with Cash App, which I can’t talk about too much yet, but I think it’ll be really cool.


From what I read, your photos were a mix of nature and also everyday things. How has exploring photography helped you further recognize the beauty in what we might consider average, ordinary things?

You know, I see beauty in every aspect of the world, and photography really helped me capture that through a new focus. It’s been really important for me lately to take pictures and remind myself that all living things are worth appreciating and loving. If you love life and want to show people how much you appreciate them, take their photo.


That’s great advice! On another note, you’ve shown a lot of growth lately in  learning how to be a better feminist and LGBTQ ally. What’s the process been like for you educating yourself more on these subjects and embracing them?

I’ve been fortunate enough to be on this journey and learning more about these subjects and different descriptors to improve my vocabulary, and so far I’ve done it all just by living my life and connecting to people.  I just want to follow the tide of how people are feeling and acknowledge their thoughts. I let people open up to me and I listen to their ideas and opinions, and letting others speak just lets me figure out where I’m at and how I can change to be a better person and see what’s the status quo. There’s a lot more to learn on that end, in a good way...a real good way!


To all the fellow computer nerds out there, do you have any advice on how to stay healthy and avoid carpal tunnel from being on the computer and tweeting all day?

Yes, shout out to the hackers and all the nerds out here, you know what I’m sayin’. Shout out to forums, shout out to Discord, shout out to Reddit. I’m just rollin’ but y’all are geniuses out there. But yeah, take time to get up and stretch. I’m actually calling from the gym right now, so that’s proof that you gotta get out there and take care of yourself! Do a couple of arm exercises, stretch those hands, and shake that little potato belly! We all got it, no need to be ashamed. But yeah, just stretch to get that blood flowing and increase your water intake. Most importantly, have fun while you’re doing it. Always gotta have fun.

​What advice would you give someone trying to open themselves up to receiving love, not just from others but also from themselves?

I think it’s a really long but important process. It doesn't’ happen overnight. You have to learn a lot about yourself and get ready for some serious personal growth. You should make self-care a part of your daily routine, that’s super important. Some days will be amazing, and some days will be harder than others, but all you have to remember is that every day is great because it’s another day that you’re alive. 

Some things will happen in your life that will be harder to process than anything you’ve dealt with before, but that’s all a part of the process of learning to live with self-love. We can’t force it on others but you can influence people by living your best lifestyle and living your life fueled with love. Embrace the idea of love! Don’t shy away from it. Even if you’re not having a positive day, that’s alright. Take it to the next day and try again. We’re just living, you know?

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That’s beautiful. Thank you so much Based God for spreading this message. I'm also curious about the intentions behind the curses you've put on people. Are your curses still coming from a place of love? How would you recommend people reading this can settle their differences with their own personal rivals?

Everything I do is always coming from a place of love. Curses specifically come from Based God so that’s a totally different headspace, but it’s still all love. I live life with love and I wish more love on all people and myself. Everyone everywhere should feel more love. More love in the country, more love in the Constitution. I’m pushing the secret agenda - the love agenda. It’s the only way to settle your differences. Send your enemies love.


So true. Now let’s talk a little bit about spreading love through your other passion: cooking. How’s your attempt into the vegan lifestyle going?

I’m still working on that, but I got a lot of respect to the vegans out there. Shout out to Follow your Heart. Shout out to Earth Island and that whole team out there doing vegan things, making veganaise and a whole bunch of vegan products. They’re really out there advancing the food technology and doing it out. LA in general is just really doing their vegan thing and influencing the world to change their diet. It’s a big process for me and I’m still learning. I’m just out here supporting salads, supporting greens, supporting the natural, and just trying to get to a better place so I can be fully vegan real soon.


You were in the studio yesterday cooking up the Options mixtape. How’s that going so far? What can we look forward to?

Thanks for asking, I’m really excited for Options and for people to finally get their hands on it. I think it’s a very different kind of tape, real different than anything I’ve done before. I’m really just feeling the vibes right now and just trying to get into what’s going on around me. I’ve got projections from Based God on there, and working with other folks in the Based World. I’m working with a lot of great people like Derek Clout, Lude Focus, A.J. Rice, and so many others. And….

*pause*

Sorry, I got distracted there. A bunch of kids just walked in to the gym and said hi. A bunch of cute little chicken nuggets! Well, excuse me for the chicken nugget reference, Nuggets kind of represent animal cruelty and death...but it’s all love at the end of the day. I mean nothing but love.
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Anyway, big love to for doing this interview. I just want to end this by saying that the end goal for me with Options and just being out here in general is to make people feel better. I’m excited to innovate and continue on my “secret agenda” of spreading more love and doing whatever I can do to make people feel better. I’m coming back to the world with more positivity than ever. It’s the comeback of Based God.

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