''Obama BasedGod'' is a

mixtape In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists mo ...

by American rapper

Lil B Brandon Christopher McCartney (born August 17, 1989), known professionally as Lil B and Lil B The BasedGod, is an American rapper. He began his career as a member of the Berkeley, California-based hip hop group the Pack in 2005, who signed wi ...

. It was released digitally for free on July 30, 2012 through Lil B's own record label, BasedWorld Records. The mixtape references

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...

, the first

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

and features tracks that focus politics and societal issues.

Music

''Obama Basedgod'' is described as Lil B's "most straightforward ''rap-rap''" release since 2011's ''

I'm Gay (I'm Happy) ''I'm Gay (I'm Happy)'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper Lil B. The album was released digitally on June 29, 2011. On June 30, 2011, the rapper provided a free download link on his Twitter account. The album entered the ''Billboard ...

''." On the mixtape's production, Lil B stokes "nostalgia for

the Diplomats The Diplomats (also known as Dipset) were an American Hip hop music, hip hop collective formed in the summer of 1997 by childhood friends Cam'ron and Jim Jones (rapper), Jimmy Jones in Harlem, New York City. The group was originally composed of ...

' or

Hov A high-occupancy vehicle lane (also known as an HOV lane, carpool lane, diamond lane, 2+ lane, and transit lane or T2 or T3 lanes) is a restricted traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and at least one passenger, ...

's heyday with sped-up

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

and

Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

singles throughout." The track "Government Imported" features the beat from

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...

's " This Can't Be Life". The track "Vote for Lil B" is the most political song on the mixtape, while the track "Freeway Trips" is about his financial troubles.

Critical reception

Carrie Battan of ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' was mixed in her review of the mixtape, stating: "Despite its charms, ''Obama Basedgod'' is often downright boring, joyless, and indistinguishable from hours upon hours of the rapper's throwaway material." Battan also wrote: "''Obama Basedgod'' is ultimately an insignificant piece to the Lil B puzzle, but that's the point-- without the excess, the dependable comforts of the curious hum of his machine would fade to black."

Track listing

;Sample credits * "Obama BasedGod" contains a sample from ''

One Got Fat ''One Got Fat'' is a 1963 American short film about bicycle safety. It is written and directed by ''The Cowboys'' author Dale Jennings and narrated by '' F-Troop'' and '' Fractured Fairy Tales'' star Edward Everett Horton. Plot In the film, te ...

''. * "Political Warfare" samples

Pusha T Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as one half of the Virginia-based hip hop duo Clipse, which he formed with his older brother No Malice, Malice. M ...

's "Exodus 23:1", which features

The-Dream Terius Adamu Ya Gesteelde-Diamant ('' né'' Youngdell Nash; born September 20, 1977), known professionally as The-Dream, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for having written or co-produced songs for artists in ...

. * "Freeway Trips" contains a sample from

Gwen McCrae Gwendolyn Patricia McCrae ( Mosley, December 21, 1943 – February 21, 2025) was an American singer, best known for her 1975 hit record, hit "Rockin' Chair (Gwen McCrae song), Rockin' Chair". Known in the music industry as the "Queen of Rare Gro ...

's "Love Without Sex". * "Government Imported" samples

's " This Can't Be Life". * "Fake Love" contains a sample from

Labelle Labelle was an American funk rock band that originated out of the Blue Belles, a girl group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The original group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the area around ...

's " Isn't It a Shame?". * "Put Down the Flags" contains samples from Cortex's " Troupeau Bleu". * "Oakland Tech" contains a sample from

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player an ...

's "

Let's Get It On ''Let's Get It On'' is the twelfth studio album by the American soul singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye. It was released on August 28, 1973, by the Motown subsidiary label Tamla Records on LP. Recording sessions for the album took place dur ...

". * "Based Party" samples

's " Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...". * "Too Real 4 the World" contains a sample from Fed-X's "Front of My Jects". * "I Don't Want Shit (Remix)" samples

The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in the New York rap scene and gangsta rap tradi ...

's " Juicy".

References

External links

Lil B - ''Obama BasedGod''
on

DatPiff DatPiff was an online audio distribution platform that was launched in 2005. It is headquartered in Pennsylvania. It specializes in hip-hop, rap, and urban music. The site was founded in the spring of 2005 by Marcus Frasier. It is owned by Me ...

{{Authority control 2012 mixtape albums Lil B mixtape albums Self-released mixtape albums Albums free for download by copyright owner Works about Barack Obama