If you’ve spent any time on the weirder corners of the internet lately, you’ve probably seen a grainy, 2012-era video of a teenage boy with a mop of curly hair getting "knighted" by a rapper. That kid isn't just some random NYU student. It’s Timothée Chalamet, years before he was leading Dune or playing Bob Dylan.
The rapper is Lil B, also known as The BasedGod.
It sounds like a Fever Dream or a weird piece of fan fiction, but Chalamet actually credits this specific moment for his entire Hollywood trajectory. Honestly, it’s one of those Hollywood origin stories that is too strange to be fake.
The Night at NYU: When Timmy Met the BasedGod
The year was 2012. Chalamet was 16. At the time, he wasn't a household name; he was a kid who had done a bit of Royal Pains and was just trying to figure out his vibe. Lil B was giving a lecture at NYU—an event that, in retrospect, was a cultural landmark for "Internet Rap."
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Chalamet didn't even have a ticket.
He recently told Nardwuar that he used $50 he’d earned from a commercial to bribe a student for their spot. He ended up in the front row. During the Q&A, Timothée raised his hand. He didn't ask about music theory or the industry. He told Lil B he had a crush on a girl and needed advice.
Lil B didn't just give him advice. He invited him on stage.
The "Knighting" Ceremony
In the footage that resurfaced recently, you can see Lil B kissing Chalamet's hand. He told the future Oscar nominee that his "hand has been blessed" and called him "golden."
"I was struggling before that," Chalamet told Nardwuar in 2024. "And then I was nominated for an Oscar by the time I was 22. Shout out Lil B. Nothing possible without Lil B. Pray to the BasedGod."
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It’s easy to dismiss this as Chalamet just being a "try-hard" or leaning into meme culture. But if you look at how he carries himself, there’s a direct line from Lil B’s "Based" philosophy to Chalamet’s career choices.
What Does "Based" Even Mean?
To understand why this matters, you have to understand Lil B. For the uninitiated, being "Based" is a lifestyle. It’s about being yourself, staying positive, and not giving a damn about what people think.
Lil B took a slur—"basehead"—and flipped it into a manifesto for radical self-acceptance.
Chalamet has admitted that Lil B’s 2011 album I’m Gay (I’m Happy) was a massive influence on him. Not because of the title's shock value, but because of the sheer audacity of it. In a hip-hop world that was often rigid and hyper-masculine, Lil B was doing whatever he wanted.
The Aura Check
Apparently, the "Based" energy is real. Chalamet shared a story about being on a film set with Tyler, The Creator. Tyler—who is a huge Lil B fan himself—didn't know about the knighting.
He told Chalamet he could "sense his aura" and that he gave off the energy of someone who had been blessed by the BasedGod. It sounds ridiculous, but in the world of high-level creatives, these weird spiritual markers carry weight.
The "Nasty" Vans and the DIY Aesthetic
Before he was wearing custom Haider Ackermann on red carpets, Chalamet was trying to emulate Lil B’s specific brand of "dirty" fashion.
Lil B was famous for wearing a pair of incredibly beat-up, filthy white Vans. Inspired by this, a teenage Chalamet wore a pair of Vans with holes in the bottom, no socks, until they were basically falling apart.
He recently looked back on those shoes and called them "nasty," but it shows how deep the fandom went. It wasn't just about the music. It was about the rejection of "polish."
Why This Connection Matters in 2026
We live in an era where every celebrity move is calculated by a PR team. Chalamet’s open devotion to Lil B feels like one of the few authentic things left in his public persona. It bridges the gap between the "prestige actor" and the "internet kid."
- Career Trajectory: Chalamet went from a bit part in Interstellar to Call Me By Your Name in what felt like a blink.
- Social Currency: In 2024, Lil B responded to Chalamet’s Nardwuar interview on X (formerly Twitter) with "LEGACY AND LOVE!"
- The "Based" Blueprint: Choosing roles like Marty Supreme (a professional ping-pong movie) over standard superhero fare is a very "Based" move.
There are plenty of critics who think Chalamet is just playing a character in interviews. They say he’s "pretentious" or "arrogant." But those who grew up in the 2010s "BasedWorld" see something else. They see a kid who actually listened to the message of "live and let live."
Actionable Insights: The Based Methodology
You don't need a rapper to kiss your hand to take something away from this weird saga. Whether you're an artist, a student, or just someone trying to navigate a career, the Chalamet/Lil B connection offers a few real-world lessons:
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- Audacity Wins: Chalamet didn't wait for an invite to that NYU talk. He bribed his way in. Sometimes, you have to create your own "blessing."
- Find Your "Based" North Star: Identify an artist or mentor who ignores the "rules." For Timmy, it was Lil B's ambiguity and freedom.
- Lean Into the Weirdness: The very things people might roll their eyes at—like being a super-fan of a meme-heavy rapper—are often the things that give you a distinct "aura" in your professional life.
- Stay Positive: The core of Lil B’s message is positivity. In a cynical industry like Hollywood, that mindset is a competitive advantage.
Chalamet’s career didn't literally start because of a "magic" touch. It started because he was a 16-year-old kid who was brave enough to jump on a stage and ask for what he wanted. That’s the most "Based" thing you can do.