Vibe.com wrote:With little more than a high-speed Internet connection and digital camera, Lil' B spent the last year releasing stark, homemade music videos coupled with atypical rhymes, amassing a dedicated online following in the process.
Getting his start at the age of 14 with the juvenile West Coast rap group,The Pack, Brandon “Lil B” McCartney eventually saw a wide open lane for his solo career. By mid 2010, B—who also deemed himself as Based God—had released over 1,000 songs online and hundreds of self-produced music videos that showcased his hypnotic flow and off-kilter subject matter. Creating his own subgenre of “Based” rap music, B aligned himself with fellow online mogul Soulja Boy.
On Thanksgiving eve, VIBE received a rare phone call from Based God as he was putting the finishing touches on his latest digital release, Evil Red Flame, which he released the following day. Read on for what turned into what LIl B dubs a “historical conversation." —Mikey Fresh
VIBE: B, what’s going on?
Lil' B: I just recorded about 30 songs in like 4 hours. I’m about to release this Evil Red Flame Mixtape.
Lord, when do you think you’ll release that one?
I’d say it will probably be to the people by Saturday (Ed note: Evil Red Flame was released on Thanksgiving Day). I’ll knock out about 5-7 songs an hour. But I practice them a lot, so when it comes to recording, it becomes subconscious. It’s like a blessing because I can mess up, and it still sounds good.
So you don’t write any of your lyrics down?
I actually used a pen and pad for this one. This one is better than Red Flame and Blue Flame. It’s real lyrical, something amazing. I feel like this music is more mature then Red Flame. There really aren’t too many joke songs, where I’m playing around. I’m really spitting all the way through on this one. I got some Capone-N-Noreaga beats on there. You’re going to be surprised. Especially for the East Coast, they’re really going to understand this one.
Speaking of East Coast beats, you recently collaborated with Cormega, which really caught people off guard. How did you link with him?
Shouts to Tony Yayo, he really helped me out with that one. Mega was one of those artists that I was heavily influenced by. And I was just talking to Yayo one day, telling him how much of an influence Cormega was on me along with Kool G Rap, Nas, Jay-Z, MF Doom and so many others. Yayo called me with Mega on the line, and we chopped it up for while and exchanged contacts. But before I even sent over the track, we had a couple long phone conversations. I think he was really trying to feel me out. I don’t think Mega works with just anyone. I got a lot more secrets up my sleeve, though.
Fill us in, Based God.
This is a VIBE first: Look out for some music from Lil' B featuring Jay Electronica and Lupe Fiasco, coming real soon. No one knows about this. I got a text from Jay Electronica last night. It’s just a respect thing between us. I mean he’s such a dope emcee.
What did he text to you?
He just showed me love, and I sent my blessings back to him. Jay Electronica to me is one of the most original in the game right now. I love his creativity. And I’ma tell you who else I think is one of the most original in the game and that’s Charles Hamilton. I’m a just leave it at that.
It seems like Hamilton been going through some things, have you spoken to him lately?
I haven’t, but he hit me up on Twitter, and I definitely gave him my support. I like artists that are true to themselves and aren’t copying off anybody. I can’t even listen to certain rappers now because they got that same Drake flow. If it’s not you, stop doing it. I’m hearing a lot of people just copying. I love artists who take pride in being original.
I’ve noticed you seemed to have a big influence on Soulja Boy’s music.
Soulja Boy always been showing love. He is one of the realest people in the industry and coolest people in general. He’s a real honest and respectful dude, so I really got nothing but love for him, and I got his back on the music tip.
What’s behind the “30 Thousand 100 Million” music video you guys just released?
“30 Thousand 100 Million”... I freestyled that in one of my songs. But Soulja just took it to another level. He made the beat at his crib, and we laid it that night. I think they’re going to also premiere it on 106 & Park soon. That’s going to be my first TV look. I’m definitely excited about that.
Did you officially sign with SB yet?
As of right now, I’m an independent artist. Me and Soulja Boy are finishing up like the last parts of the deal that we’re doing together. Out of anybody in the game that’s who I want to work with business wise. I’m rocking with Soulja.
With that situation, there’s definitely a huge opportunity to take your movement to the masses.
Listen: I have a secret album that I’m working on with a private title which is going to be my mainstream album and the album that I use to break through. I have about three singles ready to go. It’s going to be big, big year in 2011. I’m swagged up heavily. Think about it like this, you see how Trey Songz made that turn around. Trey Songz back then is way different then the Trey Songz now, so think about that. I look at my situation the same way.
Would you say this secret album has a more universal sound?
My new album everybody will understand. You can’t deny it, people are going to have to like something on there. Right now, I have couple a cats doing beats for me. I’m releasing new videos on the regular still. I’m continuously building.
Do you still stand by your comments regarding doing something to Kanye West’s backdoor?
What’s funny is that before I made that comment, I forgot that he posted one of my videos on his blog. God bless Kanye. He posted “Swag OD,” the song I did with Soulja Boy. I just forgot about that. Bottom line is I really just want to work with him and do some production for him. No one on earth is doing what I’m doing and time will prevail. I ain’t going to rush nothing. But he knows I respect him and his artistic ability. One day it will happen, he know I got love for him.
I’m not quite sure if people are ready for Lil B rapping over Kanye West production.
People don’t want that because I’ll rap for 15 minutes. It might shake the world up. I got a couple 10 minute songs on my Rain In England mixtape. Every song on there is longer than four minutes. There’s no cursing, and I’m talking about real subjects. I really just see a lot of similarities with me and 'Ye, just certain similar viewpoints. My accomplishments aren’t on his level, but artistically I understand. I’m pushing boundaries like him.
You might be your own biggest fan.
I’m just a strong supporter of my art, and I really feel it in my heart. Sometimes I cry when I’m making or listening to my music, that’s how real it is.
Word?
Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes. I’m just so happy to be here. There’s so much behind my music. This isn’t just rapping, this is deeper. I’m doing this for the love and for life, so people can grow. I want things to change and for progression in music. I produced, composed, and rapped on the first ambient rap album in hip-hop and that was last year. I got 1,200 songs. I released 900 freestyles last year, all for free. It’s like I have reasons to feel this way.
Weezy might be the only one who releases as much free music as you.
That’s like the only person who I feel like is equally working or working harder than me. We all get it in on different levels. I know he’s got shit he can tell me about, and I got shit I can tell him about.
Your style and beliefs are unique to say the least, but do you ever feel like an outsider in hip-hop?
I feel like a lot people want to label me something and keep that label on me. It hurts when people need to go rewrite their thoughts. They don’t want to accept that. People don’t want to go back and say Lil B is okay now, when I drop a 30 song mixtape where I’m spitting. People just want to write it off but you can’t write off good shit.
How do you feel about the Odd Future comparisons?
Shouts out to them. I definitely respect those young dudes from the West Coast, coming up. I know that they respect me, so it’s a lot of love. I get a lot of those comparisons because people still don’t understand me but that comes with the game. I need time to evolve and show people who I really am. The things that are similar about us is that we both don’t give a fuck, and we say what we feel. I don’t really think we talk about the same things but that doesn’t mean we can’t work.
What about the ladies? Are there any female emcees that you have your eye on?
There’s so many females in the game that I respect. I like La Chat, Gangsta Boo, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown. But also the Queen Latifahs and Salt-N-Pepas, but there’s too many to name. I’m glad that Nicki is breaking through. It’s crazy because I see so many similarities in the shit that she’s doing within me. I understand where she’s coming from. Congratulations to her. She’s taking over peoples’ brains over right now. There’s no one else like her. I feel like she’s the face of female rap and her thing is way deeper than rap.
What’s similar between you and Nicki?
If I would have gotten on the “Monster” track with Nicki, Jay, and Kanye, I would have had the best verse. I know what Nicki’s doing. She’s shining. I won’t tell too many secrets of the rap game, but you can rap or you can shine. I can do anything. Put me on a G.O.O.D. Friday mega mix with all the artists in the game, and I’ll have the best verse. And I respect and love all of them. But, lyrically I’ll have the best one. I’ve been waiting.
Wow.
And they better hope I’m not serious on there because if I seriously write, it’s over. I heard the joints with J.Cole and Big Sean and that’s all family. Everybody, but if I get on the song, I have the best verse out of everybody in the game. I guess it’s best if I don’t get on one of those. Let me do me and run over the world over here. I don’t want to take any shine away from anybody.
What is Lil B in 2011?
Think Lady Gaga, the rap version. Rap’s Lady Gaga, Phil Collins, Rick James, rap version of Prince, Canibus, MF Doom, Jay-Z, Michael Jackson, Tupac and Lil Wayne in a pot and mix it around. Smush em all together, stir the pot like soup—Lil B’s here. That’s 2011 and beyond.
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