Sheamus Dalton
Lil B, also known as “The Based God,” has made great steps in revitalizing the antiquated “Based Movement” with his recent mixtape 100% Gutta. With his eclectic mixtape, Lil B has blessed the music industry and his listeners with an astounding 34 songs that are sure to satisfy his massive following and attract new members to the movement.
For those unaware of the musical anomaly that is “The Based God,” Lil B first emerged in the music scene in 2006 with the San Francisco Bay area rap group The Pack. Since then, he has produced an overwhelming amount of music with his seven albums and nearly 50 mixtapes. With such staggering numbers, it’s hard to believe that his music has any amount of variety. However, in 100% Gutta, Lil B proves, once again, that he is a versatile artist who can stay relevant in the current music scene.
What 100% Gutta does well is stay true to the structural feel that Lil B has mastered throughout his career. Listening to every lyric of every song is not necessary to appreciate the message “The Based God” attempts to express. Some songs hardly resemble music, focusing the majority of their time on “shout outs” in which Lil B praises numerous contributors. However, it’s easy to skip around the album and find at least one song that can suffice as background noise in the laundry room.
The majority of the songs seem to be thrown together in a convoluted manner. They sound as if they were recorded and produced in under an hour. However, the sheer quantity of the mixtape, the eclectic mix and the range of sounds that The Based God professes in this tape make up for its shortcomings. Quantity, not quality is what is important here. Some of the most notable tracks on the tape include “Celebrate for Lil B” and “Live Thru Me.” Both of these tracks offer well-developed lyrics over complex beats.
Overall, the tape has a “ratchet” underground feel that had been characteristic of Lil B and the based movement. His lyrics are self-praising and degrading to both men and women who are blessed to be in his presence. However, after listening to the tape, there is a sense that Lil B is encouraging his listeners. Consistent to the vales of the Based Movement, Lil B is telling his audience not to care about what the “haters” have to say and to just be themselves and do what they want to do.
100% Gutta may not be for everyone. It may not be for the majority. However, in this tape, Lil B has done what he does best, providing music for the hardest and most based thugs out there. For that, we all owe Lil B an emphatic “thank you Based God!”