Last night, rapper, innovator, motivational speaker, and Based World ambassador Lil B visited the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a lecture and Q&A session (it was his second academic lecture, following 2012's presentation at New York University). Discussion topics ranged from GMOs, photosynthesis, Tinder, and—naturally—the Based God's Curse, and he delivered his always refreshing insights shirtless in a leather jacket. As always with the Based God, there are funny moments, but there's also sincerity, empathy, and kindness, stuff we should all aspire to. FADER attended the event, and published a full transcript; below are a selection of especially noteworthy quotes, photos and videos from those in attendance to get your weekend off to a based start.
On the Based God's Curse:
I want to say, to answer your question: yes, I do love Kevin Durant, and I appreciate him, and I appreciate the NBA. ["Would you lift the curse if Kevin Durant came to D.C.?"] If Kevin Durant came to D.C., would I lift the curse? Well, does Boston love D.C.? [Awkward applause] OK, so I didn't just say something stupid. Everybody was looking at me like—I was thinking I said something wrong! But no, if he came to D.C…I would…uhhh…you know, me and Kevin—me and Kevin got a game to play. Once Kevin is off his injury from the Based God's curse. I pray for the Thunder team, I pray for them.
LIL B CREATING ART AT MIT pic.twitter.com/ggHxTU7wPi
— Mensch Frontana (@JKRealize) November 22, 2014On positivity in the workforce:
I want to start off with a quote I made especially for MIT. This is something for everyone to think about. “Less opinion, more perspective.” What I mean by that is, sometimes I feel like an opinion is more ego driven. We’re protecting the outer. We work hard, and it’s a lot of mental things that go into working hard as well as training yourself, as all the beautiful people in here future scientists, engineers, programmers, all that. People I might be working for. The code of ethics in your job and where you work, the company you may create, or if you work for somebody, make sure you bring that love, and bring that positivity. Making sure you come and understand that we’re in this together. Even if we’re not, we need to learn, and learn to figure out ways to understand. Look at everybody and say “I’m the receiver.” I’m here to decipher the information, and decipher what they say. Not to say, “Hey, you spelled that wrong,” but maybe ask them. It’s all about the way you say it.
"LESS OPINION, MORE PERSPECTIVE." - @LILBTHEBASEDGOD Original Quote for MIT pic.twitter.com/MHWtdFznFc
— Mensch Frontana (@JKRealize) November 22, 2014On people over profit:
Make sure you comfort everybody, because you have so much power. The influence you do have, make sure you use that for the right things that's going to propel you, and propel your company. It's not always about making profit. I know y'all know how to make profit, and I know that's what it's about! But I'm very happy that I can come here and tell you I'm someone that has not been driven by the profit. You can succeed with the people. All the people that you see in here, we have in common. You can make new friends. We all need each other in here. Each and every person in this building is extremely special and extremely beautiful, and is gifted. If you guys left tomorrow—which you wouldn't, and I hope you won't—you still are beautiful and amazing and very special. Everybody has to remember that. A lot of people forget that within the hard work. You might be working so hard that you forget about your family. You might be working so hard to show your family and show your friends that you're on, that you forget to love them, or you forget to call them. And forget to appreciate, and take a deep breath in and appreciate the air. And realizing that won't last forever, being able to do that. We won't be able to do that forever.
Photo: LIL B MIT UNIVERSITY LECTURE!! So many beautiful mit students!! This is our future !!! - Lil B http://t.co/k5ZuBha14v
— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) November 22, 2014On listening:
If you aren't a victim, make sure you listen and try to put yourself in that person's place. Give the person your all when you're listening. When you're talking to someone, this is their time.
MIT x LIL B UNIVERSITY LECTURE WAS HISTORY, I CAN SEE WHY MIT IS RANKED #1 AMAZING STUDENTS AND STAFF, I SEEN THE FUTURE TODAY - Lil B
— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) November 22, 2014
