Based and Redpilled

The phrase struck a chord with those who felt marginalized by mainstream views, creating a sense of belonging among users who embraced controversial takes. It became a badge of honor for those who felt enlightened by rejecting societal norms.

A phrase that combines 'based' and 'redpilled' to praise controversial opinions and figures, often used on 4chan.

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Based and redpilled

— An anonymous 4chan user used it in a December 2013 post to describe Kanye West's controversial opinions.

People use 'based and redpilled' to endorse or celebrate figures who express unpopular or controversial opinions. For example, someone might tweet, 'Kanye is so based and redpilled for speaking out against the establishment!'

The phrase emerged on 4chan's /pol/ board, where users combined 'based' (from rapper Lil B) and 'redpilled' (from The Matrix) to describe people who challenge mainstream narratives. An early use was on December 2, 2013, when a user commented on Kanye West's controversial opinions, linking them to being 'based' and 'redpilled.'

1. 2013-12An anonymous user on 4chan's /pol/ board first combines 'based' and 'redpilled' in a comment about Kanye West.
2. 2016-11Vice publishes an article titled 'How to Tell if Your Alt-Right Relative Is Trying to Redpill You at Thanksgiving,' bringing mainstream attention to the terms.

The phrase gained traction on 4chan and spread to other platforms like Twitter and Reddit, especially during the rise of alt-right discussions around 2016. Media outlets began to cover the terms, linking them to the alt-right movement, which further popularized their usage.