Brandon "Lil B" McCartney (born August 17, 1989 and also known as The Based… Read Full Bio ↴Brandon "Lil B" McCartney (born August 17, 1989 and also known as The BasedGod, Lil Boss, Based Lord, Captain 66, Based Legend, The #1 Bitch, Tiny Pants Mobsta, Masterchef and Pretty Bitch) is a rapper/author/producer/composer/director/soothsayer from Berkeley, CA. He has been rapping since age 16 with hip hop group The Pack and leading a successful solo career, garnering popularity through the use of social media websites. He created many MySpace pages in order to upload all of his music and recorded over 1,500 tracks as of July 2010. He signed with Amalgam Digital in 2010 for a multiple album deal. He released his first studio album, Angels Exodus, on January 18, 2011 through the digital label. The album serves as a prelude to his forthcoming album Glass Face.

When Lil B titled his last digital label released mixtape I'm Gay, he received several death threats. Although he is heterosexual, he says the title is a message of support to the LGBT community. Referring to the alternative definition of gay, he says he is gay because he is happy. Following the death threats, he added "I'm Happy" in parenthesis to the album's title. I'm Gay received positive reviews with many fans commenting on the album's wide variety of positive messages and noting the unique beats and lyrical styles not common to mainstream hip hop. He raps about many controversial issues including race relations, poverty, humanity, and the justice system. The album also, according to many fans, shows the "true" side of Lil B. It entered the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart at #56 and the Heatseekers Albums chart at #20 for the week of July 16, 2011. It is for sale on iTunes but Lil B also uploaded it to the Internet for free, posting a link to it on Twitter and Facebook saying, "for all my fans who don't have $10 to buy my album, here it is for free."

Lil B typically releases at least one mixtape every month; so far in 2012 he has released 13 mixtapes - 4 in July alone. One of those released in July was the massive 848-song, nearly 5GB collection of Based Freestyles, which is his largest release to date. In 2013, hip-hop listeners voted Lil B as the greatest rapper of all time.

The Sea
Lil B Lyrics

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Something so delicate, it resembles a diamond
So beautiful

I came across the long sea by myself
This is all me, Lil B
I got to swim, I can't sink
I got to think about myself
Why would I blink?

I'm on this ship, trying to get out
I got to make a way out
I got to find Berkeley or Oakland, Richmond
Get my shit back I'm focused
Gotta stay on, I got to stay on
Got to let me wings spread like a locust
I'm Lil B, related to the locus
Hocus Pocus, we coming
Playing this magic on these ngas
Like DeWight, I'm Magic on these ngas

Get me across the sea get me across the sea
I can't see my nga i can't see, I'm on sea
Get me out to sea i'm at sea, I can't see

I'm on a deck hand crew
Trying to feed the whole city
Where's my lookout is there any snitchas
We knocking ngas out
Knocking them off the boat
Falling off ship, don't get the rope
We got the vest on if we fall off
We only get back on we stay strong
We got gold at the bottom of the ship
It's bottomless pit's
These sharks are waiting but we waiting too
We got the shit waiting and shaking
We got nets for the fish we catch and hitch
We eat and we marry
This darkness, It's scary it's Lil B

I'm at sea, I'm at sea it's Lil B
I'm at sea, I'm at sea it's Lil B

Overall Meaning

In "Across the Sea" Lil B expresses his determination and persistence as he sets off on a journey of self-discovery. He compares himself to a delicate diamond, highlighting his preciousness and uniqueness. The sea, which represents the obstacles and challenges that he has to overcome, is where he is at. Lil B imagines himself as being on a ship, traveling by himself. He reminds himself that he has to stay focused and navigate through the difficult moments in order to reach his ultimate destination.

Lil B makes reference to various cities that he wants to locate, such as Berkeley or Oakland, amongst others. These places carry symbolic significance for him, as they represent his identity and roots. He contrasts his strength with the vulnerability of other sailors who may not share his determination. Lil B explains how he is part of a crew that is responsible for the feeding of an entire city. Despite the many challenges along the way, he remains optimistic and resolute in his quest.

Overall, "Across the Sea" can be seen as a narrative of self-discovery, highlighting Lil B's resilience and determination to achieve his goals, even in the face of adversity.

The SeaLil B Lyrics

The Sea
Lil B Lyrics