I typically don't go by album running order, but for a release as expansive as this one it only makes sense. Let me lay all my cards down right now with this - the first half of this mixtape is unironically filled with great tunes. Opening track "Swerve Remix Based Freestyle" is a solid opening track that also showcases Lil B's freestyle abilities, as well as his distinct sense of humor. "Retro Based Freestyle" has a solid feature from Gino G Ready, a seemingly unknown rapper who's only Spotify work is features on Lil B songs - must be someone from his MySpace days, a shame because he's not at all a bad rapper. Album highlight "Neva Stop Me (Remix)" has an excellent beat and one of Lil B's better freestyles - it is an unapologetically great song. There is also a surprising amount of variety, such as in the more downbeat moments like "Tonight" or in the spoken word "Yet I Still Rise Based Freestyle Based Check In," which has him giving a motivational talk over a sample, including him thanking the people around him and telling them how proud he is of them - a surprisingly uplifting and serious moment in the "anything goes" humor of Lil B. A lot of his love songs generally stick to a slower tempo, which helps the flow of the project, culminating in the "based prayer" on song 99 - "Based Til the Death Based Knowledge," a moving and powerful speech from Lil B that ends on two minutes of gentle synth instrumental. A surprising amount of jumping around occurs on 855 Song Based Freestyle Mixtape, Vol. 1, and it generally serves to benefit the project.
Unfortunately, by song 50 and hour three, the repetition begins to set in. While Lil B is undoubtedly a talented rapper and a hard-worker, it's around this point where I began noticing some running themes. His affirmation of himself as "Based God" is certainly not the issue, but I found myself getting slightly annoyed at the constant references back to his origins from Berkeley - I respect the repping, but it begins to get repetitive. It doesn't help that around this point, some of the ideas begin to fall flat on their face, including a three-part "Based for Life Based Freestyle" that really only hits its peak by part three. Three remixes of "Based Robot" also get pretty lackluster, even with the humorous line of "I'm computing my computers." Some of the singing tracks demonstrate a completely new problem, too - Lil B is not a very strong singer. Some moments it works out like on the boasting "Base on Me Based Freestyle," but on the slower love songs, it can often kill the mood. The album's worst moment probably lies in "Based Girl Based Freestyle," not necessarily in contents but in performance - a sleepy beat and a lackluster Lil B vocal performance, unfortunate for such a positive song promoting peace and human friendship.
A massive undertaking on my part - and yes, I do fully intend to sit through the other seven volumes - but one that I am glad I did. For as overall inconsistent and bizarre and certainly funny this project is, the last thing I would call it is bad. Lil B manages to put out quite a few great songs across the 101 song mixtape, and in between some filler you will get a certified Based Banger. Obviously this project is not for everybody, and if you choose to sit through this make sure you settle in, but it's one that will leave you with a new outlook when finishing - you will feel stronger, more willful, and more Based. Thank you, Based God🙏.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to 855 Song Based Freestyle Mixtape, Vol. 1.
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