"Basic" is a slang term in American popular culture, used pejoratively to describe culturally unoriginal people, particularly young women, who are perceived to prefer products, trends, and music that will make them look upper class even though they are not.[1] "Basic bitch" originated in hip hop culture and rose in popularity through rap music, songs, blogs, and videos from 2011 to 2014.[2][3] The male counterpart can often be put under the "bro" label.[4][5][6]
Similar labels to "basic bitch" or "airhead" in other English-speaking countries include: contemporary British, "Essex girls" and "Sloane Rangers"; and Australian, "haul girls", known for their love of shopping for designer gear, and uploading videos of their purchases on YouTube.[7][8][9]