Thank You Based God

2007Catchphrase / image macroclassic

Also known as: TYBG · Based God · Lil B Based God

Thank You Based God is a 2007 catchphrase and image-macro meme celebrating rapper Lil B, who calls himself "The BasedGod," spreading across forums and social media as sincere praise and ironic worship.

"Thank You Based God" is a catchphrase and image macro meme tied to rapper Lil B, who calls himself "The BasedGod." Originating from Lil B's online persona and music in the late 2000s, the phrase spread across forums, social media, and comment sections as both sincere praise and ironic worship of the Berkeley rapper. Lil B's prolific internet presence and unconventional style made him one of the most influential figures in online rap culture, and the "Based God" meme helped popularize the word "based" itself, which eventually took on a life far beyond its origins.

lil b memeship hop memescatchphrase memesinternet slang origin memesearly 2010s memes

Overview

"Thank You Based God" (often abbreviated TYBG) is a phrase used to credit Lil B, a.k.a. The BasedGod, for anything good that happens. The meme typically takes the form of image macros showing someone crying or overwhelmed with gratitude, overlaid with text thanking Based God or referencing him "fucking bitches"3. The phrase works as a catch-all expression of gratitude, humor, or mock reverence directed at Lil B's larger-than-life internet persona.

The meme draws its power from the gap between Lil B's intentionally crude, chaotic rapping style and the intense, almost religious devotion of his fanbase1. Fans use "Thank You Based God" in response to lucky breaks, good news, or just about anything positive, treating Lil B as a benevolent deity of the internet.

The term "Based God" comes from Brandon Christopher McCartney, born August 17, 1989, in Berkeley, California1. McCartney started rapping at 15 as part of the hip-hop group The Pack, who released their debut album *Based Boys* in 20071. The word "based" originally carried a negative meaning, roughly equivalent to "basehead" or someone on crack, but McCartney flipped it into something positive. In an interview with Complex, he explained: "Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do"1.

Lil B built his early following through aggressive social media use, creating over 100 MySpace pages and constantly uploading videos for his unconventional songs3. He recorded over 1,500 tracks as of July 2010, including tracks like "Like A Martian," "Wonton Soup," "Pretty Bitch," and "I'm God," all released for free1. His self-given nickname "The BasedGod" became central to his identity, and fans adopted "Thank You Based God" as shorthand for their devotion.

Origin & Background

Platform
MySpace (early persona), YouTube / Twitter (viral spread)
Creator
Lil B
Date
2007–2010

The term "Based God" comes from Brandon Christopher McCartney, born August 17, 1989, in Berkeley, California. McCartney started rapping at 15 as part of the hip-hop group The Pack, who released their debut album *Based Boys* in 2007. The word "based" originally carried a negative meaning, roughly equivalent to "basehead" or someone on crack, but McCartney flipped it into something positive. In an interview with Complex, he explained: "Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do".

Lil B built his early following through aggressive social media use, creating over 100 MySpace pages and constantly uploading videos for his unconventional songs. He recorded over 1,500 tracks as of July 2010, including tracks like "Like A Martian," "Wonton Soup," "Pretty Bitch," and "I'm God," all released for free. His self-given nickname "The BasedGod" became central to his identity, and fans adopted "Thank You Based God" as shorthand for their devotion.

How It Spread

By 2010, Lil B had turned Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr into his personal broadcasting network, staying in constant contact with a growing and fiercely loyal fanbase. His signing to Soulja Boy's SODMG Entertainment in April 2010 and the release of multiple mixtapes that year expanded his reach.

The "Thank You Based God" phrase gained traction on forums and social media as Lil B's internet legend grew. Urban Dictionary entries defined it as something you say "when you have to thank the Based God Lil B for anything worth thanking him for," often in the context of the running joke that "Based God fucked my bitch". The abbreviation TYBG became common shorthand across Twitter and comment sections.

A key moment in Lil B's viral story came during the summer of 2010, when a video surfaced of Lil B in a confrontation with fellow rapper Lil Nico, who punched him during a conversation. Rather than damaging his reputation, the incident fed into the meme ecosystem around Based God, adding to the lore.

Lil B's album *I'm Gay (I'm Happy)*, released June 29, 2011, stirred controversy with its title alone and entered the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 56. The provocation fit perfectly into the Based God mythology, where Lil B did whatever he wanted regardless of backlash.

Platforms

TwitterReddithip-hop forumsTikTok

Timeline

2010-01

Lil B begins tweeting 'based god' expressions

2010-06

Phrase gains traction in hip-hop community

2010-12

Spreads to broader internet culture

2011-2012

Peak adoption and usage

2012-01-01

Thank You Based God reached mainstream popularity and media coverage

2013-present

Remains active and continues being used

2015-01-01

Thank You Based God entered the broader pop culture conversation

2025-01-01

Thank You Based God is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The "Thank You Based God" format is simple. When something good happens, you thank Based God for it. Common approaches include:

- Posting "TYBG" or "Thank You Based God" in response to good news, lucky outcomes, or absurd wins - Creating image macros with a crying or grateful person and overlaid text referencing Based God - Using the phrase ironically after something trivially good ("Found a parking spot. Thank you Based God") - Referencing the "Based God fucked my bitch" running joke, which fans treat as an honor rather than an insult

The tone typically sits somewhere between genuine admiration and playful worship. The humor comes from treating a rapper with an intentionally sloppy style as a literal god.

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Lil B's influence on internet rap culture and the broader music landscape is hard to overstate. Wikipedia credits him as "the godfather of internet rap" and a pioneer of the cloud rap subgenre. Artists including Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Chance the Rapper, Yung Lean, Earl Sweatshirt, and Tyler, the Creator have all cited his influence. Even actor Timothée Chalamet has acknowledged Lil B's cultural footprint.

The word "based" itself underwent a remarkable journey thanks to Lil B. Starting as a reclaimed insult, it became a term of approval meaning bold and unapologetic. By the late 2010s, the word shifted again, used to describe stances that reject political correctness. By the 2020s, "based" had entered mainstream slang with a more neutral meaning. The entire semantic arc traces back to one rapper's decision to turn an insult into a philosophy.

Lil B also collaborated with Chance the Rapper on the mixtape *Free (Based Freestyles Mixtape)* in August 2015, and his 2017 release *Black Ken* reached number 24 on the Top Heatseekers chart. His discography spans comedy hip-hop, new age, jazz, indie rock, and choral music, making him one of the most genre-fluid artists in rap history.

Fun Facts

Lil B released a mixtape called *05 Fuck Em* on December 24, 2013, containing 101 songs.

His debut studio album *Rain in England* (2010) was a beatless, spoken-word set over new-age synths that *The Guardian* described as "Beat poetry-style".

He created over 100 MySpace pages as part of his early promotional strategy.

Rolling Stone ranked The Pack's "Vans" as the fifth best song of 2006.

His album *I'm Gay (I'm Happy)* caused controversy just from the title before anyone even heard the music.

Derivatives & Variations

Based God Variations

Different variations expressing similar sentiments with reference to 'based' culture

(2010)

Lil B References

Broader Lil B-related content and quotes used as memes

(2010)

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank You Based God

2007Catchphrase / image macroclassic

Also known as: TYBG · Based God · Lil B Based God

Thank You Based God is a 2007 catchphrase and image-macro meme celebrating rapper Lil B, who calls himself "The BasedGod," spreading across forums and social media as sincere praise and ironic worship.

"Thank You Based God" is a catchphrase and image macro meme tied to rapper Lil B, who calls himself "The BasedGod." Originating from Lil B's online persona and music in the late 2000s, the phrase spread across forums, social media, and comment sections as both sincere praise and ironic worship of the Berkeley rapper. Lil B's prolific internet presence and unconventional style made him one of the most influential figures in online rap culture, and the "Based God" meme helped popularize the word "based" itself, which eventually took on a life far beyond its origins.

lil b memes hip hop memes catchphrase memes internet slang origin memes early 2010s memes

Overview

"Thank You Based God" (often abbreviated TYBG) is a phrase used to credit Lil B, a.k.a. The BasedGod, for anything good that happens. The meme typically takes the form of image macros showing someone crying or overwhelmed with gratitude, overlaid with text thanking Based God or referencing him "fucking bitches". The phrase works as a catch-all expression of gratitude, humor, or mock reverence directed at Lil B's larger-than-life internet persona.

The meme draws its power from the gap between Lil B's intentionally crude, chaotic rapping style and the intense, almost religious devotion of his fanbase. Fans use "Thank You Based God" in response to lucky breaks, good news, or just about anything positive, treating Lil B as a benevolent deity of the internet.

The term "Based God" comes from Brandon Christopher McCartney, born August 17, 1989, in Berkeley, California. McCartney started rapping at 15 as part of the hip-hop group The Pack, who released their debut album *Based Boys* in 2007. The word "based" originally carried a negative meaning, roughly equivalent to "basehead" or someone on crack, but McCartney flipped it into something positive. In an interview with Complex, he explained: "Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do".

Lil B built his early following through aggressive social media use, creating over 100 MySpace pages and constantly uploading videos for his unconventional songs. He recorded over 1,500 tracks as of July 2010, including tracks like "Like A Martian," "Wonton Soup," "Pretty Bitch," and "I'm God," all released for free. His self-given nickname "The BasedGod" became central to his identity, and fans adopted "Thank You Based God" as shorthand for their devotion.

Origin & Background

Platform
MySpace (early persona), YouTube / Twitter (viral spread)
Creator
Lil B
Date
2007–2010

The term "Based God" comes from Brandon Christopher McCartney, born August 17, 1989, in Berkeley, California. McCartney started rapping at 15 as part of the hip-hop group The Pack, who released their debut album *Based Boys* in 2007. The word "based" originally carried a negative meaning, roughly equivalent to "basehead" or someone on crack, but McCartney flipped it into something positive. In an interview with Complex, he explained: "Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do".

Lil B built his early following through aggressive social media use, creating over 100 MySpace pages and constantly uploading videos for his unconventional songs. He recorded over 1,500 tracks as of July 2010, including tracks like "Like A Martian," "Wonton Soup," "Pretty Bitch," and "I'm God," all released for free. His self-given nickname "The BasedGod" became central to his identity, and fans adopted "Thank You Based God" as shorthand for their devotion.

How It Spread

By 2010, Lil B had turned Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr into his personal broadcasting network, staying in constant contact with a growing and fiercely loyal fanbase. His signing to Soulja Boy's SODMG Entertainment in April 2010 and the release of multiple mixtapes that year expanded his reach.

The "Thank You Based God" phrase gained traction on forums and social media as Lil B's internet legend grew. Urban Dictionary entries defined it as something you say "when you have to thank the Based God Lil B for anything worth thanking him for," often in the context of the running joke that "Based God fucked my bitch". The abbreviation TYBG became common shorthand across Twitter and comment sections.

A key moment in Lil B's viral story came during the summer of 2010, when a video surfaced of Lil B in a confrontation with fellow rapper Lil Nico, who punched him during a conversation. Rather than damaging his reputation, the incident fed into the meme ecosystem around Based God, adding to the lore.

Lil B's album *I'm Gay (I'm Happy)*, released June 29, 2011, stirred controversy with its title alone and entered the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 56. The provocation fit perfectly into the Based God mythology, where Lil B did whatever he wanted regardless of backlash.

Platforms

TwitterReddithip-hop forumsTikTok

Timeline

2010-01

Lil B begins tweeting 'based god' expressions

2010-06

Phrase gains traction in hip-hop community

2010-12

Spreads to broader internet culture

2011-2012

Peak adoption and usage

2012-01-01

Thank You Based God reached mainstream popularity and media coverage

2013-present

Remains active and continues being used

2015-01-01

Thank You Based God entered the broader pop culture conversation

2025-01-01

Thank You Based God is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The "Thank You Based God" format is simple. When something good happens, you thank Based God for it. Common approaches include:

- Posting "TYBG" or "Thank You Based God" in response to good news, lucky outcomes, or absurd wins - Creating image macros with a crying or grateful person and overlaid text referencing Based God - Using the phrase ironically after something trivially good ("Found a parking spot. Thank you Based God") - Referencing the "Based God fucked my bitch" running joke, which fans treat as an honor rather than an insult

The tone typically sits somewhere between genuine admiration and playful worship. The humor comes from treating a rapper with an intentionally sloppy style as a literal god.

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Lil B's influence on internet rap culture and the broader music landscape is hard to overstate. Wikipedia credits him as "the godfather of internet rap" and a pioneer of the cloud rap subgenre. Artists including Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Chance the Rapper, Yung Lean, Earl Sweatshirt, and Tyler, the Creator have all cited his influence. Even actor Timothée Chalamet has acknowledged Lil B's cultural footprint.

The word "based" itself underwent a remarkable journey thanks to Lil B. Starting as a reclaimed insult, it became a term of approval meaning bold and unapologetic. By the late 2010s, the word shifted again, used to describe stances that reject political correctness. By the 2020s, "based" had entered mainstream slang with a more neutral meaning. The entire semantic arc traces back to one rapper's decision to turn an insult into a philosophy.

Lil B also collaborated with Chance the Rapper on the mixtape *Free (Based Freestyles Mixtape)* in August 2015, and his 2017 release *Black Ken* reached number 24 on the Top Heatseekers chart. His discography spans comedy hip-hop, new age, jazz, indie rock, and choral music, making him one of the most genre-fluid artists in rap history.

Fun Facts

Lil B released a mixtape called *05 Fuck Em* on December 24, 2013, containing 101 songs.

His debut studio album *Rain in England* (2010) was a beatless, spoken-word set over new-age synths that *The Guardian* described as "Beat poetry-style".

He created over 100 MySpace pages as part of his early promotional strategy.

Rolling Stone ranked The Pack's "Vans" as the fifth best song of 2006.

His album *I'm Gay (I'm Happy)* caused controversy just from the title before anyone even heard the music.

Derivatives & Variations

Based God Variations

Different variations expressing similar sentiments with reference to 'based' culture

(2010)

Lil B References

Broader Lil B-related content and quotes used as memes

(2010)

Frequently Asked Questions