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.
Unchain Me
Lil B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been a long time coming
A lot of pain a lot of triumph
Now I've come to the point where I'm happy
[Verse 1 - Lil B]
You could break me out the strait jacket
This hip-hop is just play action
I'm a legend, fuck the rap-off
They say I can't do my thing
I'mma build my own lane
You come in, you get ran over
But damn, you sober
I'm the god emcee like Hova
But I'm on another level and my grind is over
I’ll put the heat on your back like you're sitting in Rovers
And he always prayed to God I'm just bringing him closer
Feel like I'm doing a bid and my mind in Angola
You be food, then I'm cool, they tried to get over
I stopped picking up my phone, they won't get any closer
They watching my every step because I'm living in motion
Seen it in the hood, I can't, feeling is open
They ask for my money, every other day like I'm asking for something
But when I had nothing they was laughing
They told me that I'd never make it rapping
It brings tears to see I'm on top, but I told you that I'd make it
14, I was living like my life was the pavement
And I wanted to die, couldn't nobody save me
Now I save my own self and I'm on and I'm famous
And I deal with the haters
Ain't nobody gonna take away what I built
Fuck the death threats, small impostors
But really got the love, but they just choosing that option
When I started to live better, they started to hate
I still got the same brain, that caught all the cases
I've still got the same eyes and seen all the places
But I ain't never been faking
And, it's not a game, it's not the Trail Blazers
Throwing shots but we dying
And the rap game
It's the slave trade
No time for meditation
Turning into robots
The Devil is money
It's not even human
The people die for a piece of paper
It's so stupid
Man, live however you do it
I guarantee, you see your life as a child
And make you at your all, just make
Sure that you smile
But dying every day, ma's look at me now
There was hating, but I never stop
I wanted to drop, but Based God
Gave me strength in the Vans
I gotta really notice my chance
Make history, man
Three back, I was feeling like "damn!"
You don't know how I felt
When I was washing my hands
Off that filth that was around
I'd never be down
One the streets I'm gone
I never be around
Cause the hood is a lie
Man, you better wake up before you're
Dead or surprised
I'm just trying to save myself man
For real, but they trapped in the middle
Don't wanna go to school
Cause the teacher's too simple
I just wanna know where I come from
The truth, tell me, before I desolve
It's connected to the woods
The wilderness is my home
The world say I'm bad because of my color
But they don't get the fact that I say that I love you
People given the option to hustle
Just take it and, I swear to God if you're willing to struggle
And once you pass the bottom you gonna make it to the top
It's a lot of hate up in the world, just make sure that you watch
Lyrics taken from rapgenius.com.
In Lil B's song "Unchain Me," he reflects on his journey through life and the music industry. The intro sets the tone, with Lil B acknowledging the struggles he's faced in his career while also expressing his current state of happiness. The first verse speaks to the scrutiny Lil B has faced in the rap industry, with other artists doubting his abilities, but he stays focused and builds his own path. He speaks to the negative influences in the world, such as money and fame and the trap of the street hustling lifestyle. Despite all of this, Lil B is resilient and encourages his listeners to push through their struggles and rise to the top.
One interesting fact about "Unchain Me" is that it was released as part of Lil B's "05 Fuck Em" mixtape in 2011, which featured over 100 songs. The mixtape has been described as a viral sensation and helped Lil B gain a dedicated fan following. Additionally, the song's title and lyrics reflect Lil B's belief in freeing himself from societal constraints and expectations, a theme that reappears in many of his songs. Another interesting tidbit about "Unchain Me" is that Lil B has stated that he recorded the entire "05 Fuck Em" mixtape in under a month, showcasing his prolificacy as an artist.
In terms of musicality, "Unchain Me" is a sample-based production that features a soulful loop and a steady, minimalist beat. One chord progression that can be heard is Am7, Dm7, and G7, with a descending melody in the vocal line. However, the production on "Unchain Me" is intentionally lo-fi and unpolished, as Lil B's music often prioritizes rawness and authenticity over perfection. Overall, "Unchain Me" is a powerful and introspective song that showcases Lil B's unique perspective and style.
Chords (approximated):
Am7 - x02010
Dm7 - xx0211
G7 - 320001
Line by Line Meaning
Been a long time coming
It took a while to get where I am now
A lot of pain a lot of triumph
I faced many hardships to achieve success
Now I've come to the point where I'm happy
I finally reached a point of contentment in my life
You could break me out the strait jacket
I am not constrained by the expectations of the music industry
This hip-hop is just play action
Rap is just a game to me
I switch off and I keep smashing
I effortlessly produce hit after hit
I'm a legend, fuck the rap-off
I am a rap icon, I don't need to prove myself in a competition
They say I can't do my thing
Critics doubt my abilities as an artist
I'mma build my own lane
I create my own unique sound and style
You come in, you get ran over
Other rappers who try to emulate me will not succeed
But damn, you sober
My music is so good, it will make you stop and think
I'm the god emcee like Hova
I am a master of rap like Jay-Z
But I'm on another level and my grind is over
I have achieved a level of success where I no longer need to struggle to make it.
I’ll put the heat on your back like you're sitting in Rovers
My music will make you feel intense emotion
And he always prayed to God I'm just bringing him closer
My music is spiritually uplifting
Feel like I'm doing a bid and my mind in Angola
I feel trapped like I'm in prison, mentally and emotionally
You be food, then I'm cool, they tried to get over
People who doubted me are now jealous of my success
I stopped picking up my phone, they won't get any closer
I am selectively choosing who I allow in my circle
They watching my every step because I'm living in motion
People are paying close attention to my every move because of my fame
Seen it in the hood, I can't, feeling is open
I witnessed the struggles of living in the ghetto and it left me feeling vulnerable
They ask for my money, every other day like I'm asking for something
People frequently ask me for money assuming I have it
But when I had nothing they was laughing
People didn't believe in me or take me seriously when I was starting out
It brings tears to see I'm on top, but I told you that I'd make it
I am proud of my success and happy that I proved people wrong
14, I was living like my life was the pavement
I grew up poor with no hope for the future
And I wanted to die, couldn't nobody save me
I struggled with depression and felt like there was no way out
Now I save my own self and I'm on and I'm famous
I overcame my struggles and achieved fame through my own hard work
And I deal with the haters
I handle criticism and negativity from others
Ain't nobody gonna take away what I built
I am confident in my accomplishments and know that they cannot be taken away
Fuck the death threats, small impostors
I don't let threats or detractors bring me down
But really got the love, but they just choosing that option
People pretend to love me, but only when it benefits them
When I started to live better, they started to hate
Jealousy and resentment arose when I achieved success
I still got the same brain, that caught all the cases
I am still the same person who faced legal troubles in the past
I've still got the same eyes and seen all the places
I have not forgotten where I come from or how far I have come
But I ain't never been faking
I am genuine in my artistry and persona
And, it's not a game, it's not the Trail Blazers
Music is serious to me and not just a recreation
Throwing shots but we dying
Rappers try to take each other down instead of building each other up
And the rap game
The music industry is flawed and doesn't always value true talent
It's the slave trade
The rap business exploits artists and doesn't always treat them fairly
No time for meditation
I have no time to rest or contemplate my choices
Turning into robots
People are losing their individuality and conforming to societal norms
The Devil is money
The love of money leads to corruption and greed
It's not even human
The music industry is soulless and inhumane
The people die for a piece of paper
People will go to great lengths for money, even if it means sacrificing their morals
It's so stupid
The pursuit of money above all else is foolish
Man, live however you do it
Live your life in the way that makes you happy
I guarantee, you see your life as a child
Your childhood experiences shape who you are as an adult
And make you at your all, just make
Your experiences should motivate you to strive for greatness
Sure that you smile
Happiness is important in life
But dying every day, ma's look at me now
Life is hard and full of struggles, but I persevered
There was hating, but I never stop
Despite the criticism, I never gave up on my dreams
I wanted to drop, but Based God
I almost quit, but Lil B gave me the strength to keep going
Gave me strength in the Vans
Lil B's music inspired me to work harder
I gotta really notice my chance
I must take advantage of my opportunities
Make history, man
I want to leave a lasting impact on the music industry
Three back, I was feeling like "damn!"
I struggled three years ago and am now amazed by my progress
You don't know how I felt
Others cannot understand my struggles and emotions
When I was washing my hands
I had to clean up my life and start fresh
Off that filth that was around
I had to distance myself from negative influences
I'd never be down
I refuse to let myself fall back into a negative headspace
One the streets I'm gone
I left my old life behind for a better future
I never be around
I do not associate with negative influences from my past
Cause the hood is a lie
Living in the ghetto does not represent reality
Man, you better wake up before you're
People need to realize the truth before it's too late
Dead or surprised
They may not see the warning signs before it's too late
I'm just trying to save myself man
I am focused on my own well-being and success
For real, but they trapped in the middle
Others are still struggling and cannot break free of their situation
Don't wanna go to school
Education may not be a priority in their lives
Cause the teacher's too simple
They are not being challenged intellectually in school
I just wanna know where I come from
I am curious about my roots and heritage
The truth, tell me, before I desolve
I want to know the truth about my ancestry before it is too late
It's connected to the woods
My heritage is tied to nature and the outdoors
The wilderness is my home
I feel a spiritual connection to nature and the outdoors
The world say I'm bad because of my color
I am judged unfairly because of my skin color
But they don't get the fact that I say that I love you
I express love and positivity in my music despite facing discrimination
People given the option to hustle
People are sometimes forced to turn to crime in order to survive
Just take it and, I swear to God if you're willing to struggle
If you are willing to work hard, you can succeed despite the odds
And once you pass the bottom you gonna make it to the top
If you keep working hard, you will eventually achieve success
It's a lot of hate up in the world, just make sure that you watch
There are many negative influences in the world, so stay vigilant and positive
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ricebeans896
I'm not gonna lie there was a point in time where Lil b's music actually saved me. It was something about his confidence and resiliency shown through his music that encouraged me to turn my life around. #LIfeIsStrange
@LukePluto
amen
@beingblessed247
+LukePluto based for life. respect fam
@buk6708
Based Level Noin-thousand, P.O.P holding it down, dab, Ebola, Pepe and a lot of other memes.
@onlyonezay419
rice beans real shit
@bigceec15
I feel the same way.
@shanejman
"The rap game is the slave trade, no time for meditation, turned into robots, the devil is money, it's not even human, the people die for a piece of paper, it's so stupid" - one of my all time fav Lil B lines.
@PHMTHEDON
Almost in tears. I needed this.
@rjbubba203
PHMTHEDON I've cried to this shit several times, got me through some heavy shit
@withybarley2958
@@rjbubba203 I love it