Sorta! You can play BL2 without playing the first game and not miss too much - there are nods back to the first game you won't get, but it sums up the events of the first game's plot pretty completely. I still def recommend playing the first one at some point though because it's hilarious and there's a DLC that involves a zombie island and werewolves wearing nice hats.

whispers join us in BDL hell