Modern transcendentalists are everywhere, but they are usually annoying. Fortunately, there is one man who rises above. That man is Lil B, “The BasedGod.”

Enter Lil B. Born as Brandon McCartney, a rapper originally from the Bay Area, Lil B has always strived to live a life of non-conformity and spiritual nature. Utilizing social networking sites in the same way that the original transcendentalists utilized poetry, The BasedGod freely shares his deep connection to nature, his unwavering faith in the human spirit, and his belief in the power of the individual.

Lil B has always cared about nature. He loves animals so much that he even featured his adopted tabby cat, Keke, on one of his singles. His love for wildlife and all living things is youthful and full of wonder, very similar to Walt Whitman's.

In addition to a career in music, Lil B has scientific aspirations.

He exhibits gentleness towards the world and has a conscientious nature towards, well, nature.

Lil B is one with nature.

Like most spiritual views, this love of nature eventually intersects with another belief. In this case, it is his awe towards the human spirit.

What is "The BasedGod?"

Most celebrities and intellectuals of our time are cynical about the human condition. They believe that we are all doomed, or that our efforts are meaningless. By contrast, Lil B loves everyone and isn't afraid to show it.

Here, he praises god for the life of all people, speaking to the reader as if he knew them. He cares deeply for other people and wants the best, even if he doesn't know them. He is fascinated by the human mind and the diversity that our world holds.

Even when times look harsh, Lil B manages to find the good in people.

The BasedGod is also a strong non-conformist. He promotes free thinking, self expression, and self love. His twitter feed is filled with affirmations of things that are not usually considered the social norm. To him, creativity is the most important thing a person can have. Lil B rejects the standards and constructs that society has created by which to gauge our achievements, and by doing so, accepts his people for who they are. 

Sometimes Lil B is a little more aggressive with his non-conformist stance, and challenges his fans to think outside of the box, as pictured in the image below.

A true individualist, Lil B always stands up for the underdog.

Through his mantra of self love, Lil B explores the individualistic and very transcendentalist idea of finding oneself through reflection and methods of soul searching.

In accordance with this belief in strong non-conformity, Lil B holds the belief that imagination is more important than reason. Although he is curious about the world, he shows that curiosity should be zealous, enthusiastic, and open minded. Sometimes an answer is not necessary as long as one asks questions.

Oftentimes his love of intuition is coupled with a want for peace and togetherness. In a way, Lil B denounces competition and the idea of winners and losers by valuing imagination.

Once again, his beliefs intersect. Here is the juncture where his love of nature and his love of intuition meet.

Although he uses social networking websites instead of pencil and paper, Lil B is a poet in his own right.

To add even more to his transcendentalist aura, Lil B does not believe in materialism. He questions the necessity of money, finding other things, such as love and relationships to be more important. 

Even though most people are deterred by Lil B's bad spelling skills and profane song lyrics, The BasedGod is the best example of a modern transcendentalist currently available. Not only does he surpass expectations by meeting every requirement to be one, but his views are consistent, proving that his transcendentalist beliefs are ingrained into his lifestyle. For him, his beliefs are one in the same, synthesizing his love of the natural world, human nature, and imagination all into one. His wonder and innocent curiosity is a refreshing change from the pessimistic mindset that many have in this day and age. Lil B may not define himself as a transcendentalist, but his actions speak louder than words, and from his twitter platform, he inspires others to lead a better life full of tolerance, peace, and self love.

Thank you, BasedGod!