Carlos Bastarache: lil-b-caro-uproxx.jpg

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Lil B has established quite the reputation for himself on social media, which has been a mixture of extreme positivity and sometimes, random beef. Arguably, there’s no one rapper who has achieved more interest for social media first, music second than he has. The coolest thing about Lil B is that despite the “curses” he’s put on people, the conspiracies about Twitter stunts, and the other sensationalism surrounding his name, the music is actually pretty good.

Perhaps described best by Slate columnist Jonah Weiner back in 2011 as one of a growing number of “weirdo rappers,” Lil B is weird in the best way. The listener is left wanting to hear what he’s going to say next, and he’s going to deliver something to keep their interest. The thing about him is, no matter how people feel about his music or social media presence, if he’s anything, he lovable.

Lil B refers to his musical style and work ethic as “based,” which is a movement that is grounded in positivity and tolerance. It’s all about being yourself, and turning negatives into positives. The “Based God” is the prime example of that, having turned what was a controversial existence into a pretty dope platform for him to do more creatively.

The most recent creative venture has been a cooking show called Food Makes Me Happy, in which he joins with chefs and popular foodies to learn how to make different dishes. The mixture of Lil B’s quirky yet lighthearted personality and the seriousness with which the food experts take their craft makes for a hilariously odd show, and after watching the first episode, I had to know more. So I called Lil B and talked to him about Twitter, the cooking show, and more.

You’re like, the King of Twitter, and I was scrolling through Twitter and I saw you have a cooking show now. I got to see a couple episodes.

Yeah, I just released a new episode today with a new chef. I think we got a few more episodes to go. You know, three or four, but I just dropped one today with a new chef, but I haven’t gotten the chance to really get online and promote and stuff like that.

But yeah, just dropped something new today on AwesomenessTV. I collaborated with them and…shout out to Colin Tilley, we did something different. You know, I wanted to give people a different vibe and bring people some good, different stuff to have fun with…lighthearted, you know, stuff like that. Just lighthearted. And I’m also trying to also show respect. How I respect like, different types of food, whether it be vegan or vegetarian or even meat.

I always just try to pay respect to everybody and just figure things out, learn about it and just be myself throughout the situation. It’s really cool man; I got a chance to get a lot of good tips from some great chefs and like and start being able to cook for myself and stuff like that.

Is that where it came from? You wanted to learn how to cook for yourself and you thought it would be cool if people could watch it?

Yeah, you know, it was more that my boy came to me with the idea of the cooking show and I was like, ‘You know, there’s enough cooking shows out there.’ I wasn’t really into it. But working with him and also working with AwesomenessTV was kind of the thing that made the offer sound cool. It’s a dope show and people are already asking for more, you know what I’m saying? It’s been getting a great response. It’s just continuing to grow more now that it’s out there; I’m so happy. You know, it’s definitely going to be something that, organically, through time, is going to mean a lot to people in the future.

So far, what’s been your favorite episode?

I liked every one. It’s something different, something funny. You know, there’s an episode with a chef…I don’t remember her name at the moment. It hasn’t come out yet, but it was real cool. It’s a cool chemistry and, she had a pretty good dish. She had spent some time in Jamaica and she was a fan of some of the Jamaican ideals within the food. She was infusing some of that with her stuff it was real cool, man. So, I think that’s one of my favorites that’s coming out. I also liked the first one that dropped with paleo Chef Mary.

What is one dish you thought of that was like, ‘Man, I hope I get to learn how to cook this.’

Good soups. You know, really good soups. Vegetable soups. Vegetable soups for sure.

That’s so specific. Is that a favorite food of yours?

I definitely got love for the soups. Man, the stews, you know what I’m saying? I’m definitely a big soup fan. The cabbage, the steamed cabbage. There’s a lot of foods that I rock with. There’s also a lot of foods that I respect but I might not eat myself. I’m still seeing what’s up out here. What’s to eat. But, you know, I’m going try. You know, I’m still just trying to eat [new] stuff.

What did you grow up eating? What did you come up on? What was your cultural background?

You know, humans first. I identify with a lot of different people. A lot of different folks. Maybe in 2017 or 2016, I would say that I was black but…I’m human.

Okay. So, you’re going for the human diet here with your show? That’s why you say want to span everything, all of it kind of diets.

Yeah, that’s it. That’s how I’m trying to rock it. That’s what I represent is the human diet to the fullest.

I feel you, on that. Yeah, that’s for sure…keeping yourself healthy and all that because I see on your social media you tend to be human positive. Like, no hating and all of that, which is commendable.

Absolutely. Yeah, you gotta be.

Who is choosing the chefs that you get to work with?

All the folks that came on that show — I had never met any of them. The staff that works with the show, they picked the guests. Every guest on camera with me, we never met before. So, literally, everybody that was on camera with me, that was the first time us talking and meeting. We didn’t talk behind the scenes or anything like that. I wanted to just be organic and keep everything organic.

For it to be your first time meeting them, you had a lot of chemistry with a lot of them.

Yeah, thank you. Thanks. I appreciate it. It was unique meeting them, you know? I just like making people feel good and hearing their story. There’s some real good stuff coming out. It’s cool getting some more insight on meeting people and seeing what they eat.

For sure. That sounds interesting. You said you’re already for 2019. So, besides the cooking show, what else is it that you got up for us?

Yeah! Well, you know, I’m going to be doing some big meetings. I’m going to be flying out there to New York. I’m going to be talking with Def Jam. I’m going to be talking with Warner. You know, dealing with the music business. I’m actually going to self-produce my next tape that I’m working on, Platinum Frame. This going to be my second official mixtape.

My first official mixtape, I self-produced it last year. Black Ken debuted number one on iTunes in hip-hop, and top five or ten top, top five on the whole iTunes, on all genres. It was really cool to be able to self-produce. I’m standing in front of my equipment right now so it’s really cool to be able to do that and then, you know, go worldwide and you know to chart. So, I’m like, ‘Man, you know what? I’m gonna do it again.’ You know, last year, the whole 2017, I really focused on teaching myself how to become a better producer and really explain my story how I need to, to – to the people and to you guys. I’m really going to be able to show what I’ve been learning and what I taught myself this year.

Awesome. That’s really great. Any plans for a restaurant or something like that for when you become the master chef?

Yeah, you know, it’s some exciting stuff. My friend just got some real estate in Albany. I might be working with him on something.

I’m also going to be doing some more work with Follow Your Heart. It’s a vegan food company based in LA. They made history in the food technology industry by protecting animals and stuff like that. So, we’re going to get on some really cool stuff coming out in the future. I’m definitely going to be working with PETA in the future and some restaurants and stuff. That’s something that’s close to me.

But, you know, I definitely want to give people the music. I release a video in a couple months, which has been a blessing. I’m very lucky to be able to have people that love me to the point where I can be unsigned how I am — no label, no manager, no majors, no nothing. I could really do this by myself be able to do stuff like that, like randomly take a year off. I’m still doing a lot but I could take a year to sit back and teach myself how to produce so I can be a better artist for you guys, and be able to explain my story how I really need to explain it, because nobody could tell the truth how I could tell my own truth. That’s why my album charted. That’s why my first official mixtape charted for a minute. It went number one on iTunes, and top 5 in every genre on iTunes was because of my truth.

I’m going to be honest: as a producer, I made some mistakes on Black Ken. You know, being too critical of myself — but it’s still a masterpiece. It’s still amazing because it’s pure. But what’s coming, everything after, we ain’t making no mistakes. We going crazy. All we going to do is getting better. You know, progress.

Awesome. That sounds great. We are so ready for what you got for us. We just been chilling on social media, like ‘Where he at?’

Yeah, thank you. That’s what I’m saying, like, I’m still talking to ya’ll. Still letting ya’ll know I’m here and, and I’m going to be showing ya’ll my face, showing all this music and really being out there with competing with everybody. You feel me? Because that’s what I like to do. I like to compete with all these other artists — the young ones, the old ones, kids… you know, I’m jealous of all of them. We taking all their spots, you know what I’m saying? Like, it really don’t matter. One we get in the game, it’s a wrap. Once I come in, I ain’t stopping.

That’s dope. I hear you, man. Any blessing and curses you want to give out before we close the interview?

Yeah, it’s all love, man. You know, just, just sending love to UPROXX, the whole staff. Keep it good, man. We’re rocking with the music. Shout out to all the fans and everybody that really got respect for Lil B and, and believes in the Based God. I’m going to make y’all proud. Just watch me 2018 and beyond. I’m doing this for ya’ll.

Lil B, man. I’m coming