Damian Lillard is the top player in the NBA. He has six All-Star Games, the first team of the year and an Olympic gold medal. He is the second player in NBA history to score more than 60 points in three games in a single season. He is tied with Michael Jordan for the most points in the playoffs. The player with the most buzzer-beating winning shots, and his killer qualities of repeatedly scoring key goals and winning shots also earned the title of "Dame Time". In 2020, Lillard was also selected into the list of the NBA's 75 Greatest Stars as an active player.
But off the court, most NBA players will take a vacation during the summer vacation or participate in brand sponsorship activities, but for Lillard, it is the launch of another identity and career: Dame DOLLA.
Dame DOLLA
Hip Hop culture and basketball have always been inextricably linked. Shaquille O'Nea and Allen Iverson, the instigator of basketball hip-hop style, have both produced rap music. Steven Francis and Kobe Bryant have also released singles to explain their state of mind. , current stars including LeBron James and Kevin Durant have released rap works.
However, in the minds of many people, Damian Lillard is a rapper who was "delayed" by basketball. He is also the No. 1 rapper in the NBA certified by the American media. He not only has the talent for music creation, but it is not just for entertainment. He is truly dedicated and dedicated. Time to develop your music career and consider yourself a real "singer".
Singer Lil Wayne, who has collaborated with many professional players on music, believes that the biggest difference between Lillard and Lillard is his continued output. “Many slash people just want to fulfill their dreams and have some works to satisfy themselves, but Damian is different. He He really wants to make a difference and leave a well-received work." Wayne said, "He is very sincere and attentive, not artificial or lazy at all, and has very high requirements for quality. He often sends recorded songs to I came to seek advice, and after I gave him advice, he would send me new ones."
Lillard's interest in rap even predates basketball. "He has been very good at rapping to music since he was a child. When I was driving him, I could hum casually. He has a natural sense of rhythm." Lillard's cousin Houston Jr. said. Lillard’s true inspiration came from another cousin, whose hip-hop stage name is Brookfield Duece, who is also a well-known rapper in Auckland. “His performance on stage and private creation made me start to understand and devote myself to music. field."
Starting from high school and college, Lillard would post his music creations on the Internet, and would often discuss rap skills with his roommate and teammate Josh Noble. The two would often improvise some rhythm fragments and rap auditions, and then ask each other to evaluate them. Many of Lillard's teammates also praised him as the "little king of rap" in the team, and also named him Dame DOLLA, which means that his talent is on different levels allowed by the Creator (Different on Levels the Lord Allows). After that, Lillard was named Dame Debuted under the stage name DOLLA.
"Besides basketball, music is another passion in my life." Since entering the NBA, Lillard has released 5 albums, including the latest album "All Hail The King", which will be released at the end of October 2022. Each album Both ranked in the US Billboard 200.
"I am very passionate about making music. Music is the third life besides family and basketball." In addition to playing basketball, Lillard also loves singing. "I hope that my creations can occupy the rankings." But Lillard also emphasized that , what he wants to do is not just monotonous songs that can be played in nightclubs, but to produce high-quality music with his own style.
Lillard released his first album "The Letter O" in 2016. On his birthday that year, he held his first solo ticketed concert with CJ McCollum at the Crystal Ballroom, a music venue in Portland, and went on radio and TV programs to promote it. The singing schedule is just like that of a professional singer. When he visited Taiwan that year, Lillard performed a Freestyle at adidas 101 Stadium to heat up the atmosphere. In 2019, Lillard also participated in the Taiwanese singing talent show "The King of Voices" as a mysterious guest, and Give advice to 4 contestants with hip-hop style.
As soon as the off-season arrives, Lillard will start a career in music creation and recording. He often travels between the court, the gym and the recording studio. He first practices in the gym for 2 hours, and then stays in the recording studio from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. In the 2020 NBA bubble in Orlando, many players brought video games or other entertainment such as fishing. Lillard brought recording equipment to create music in his room. "What I admire most about him is his discipline and time management. He can arrange all his time in an orderly manner." Lillard's agent Aaron Goodwin said, "He has extremely high demands on himself and wants to be like what he does."
In 2020, although the Trail Blazers and Lillard once again lost in the playoffs, Lillard turned to venting his regrets on melody, and instead achieved great success in musical performance. Lillard stayed in the recording studio 12 hours a day and invited well-known figures in the hip-hop circle, such as singer Lil Wayne, pop king Kanye West and super producer Scott Stallings. Lillard released his second album "Confirmed" and became an instant success. Ranked 32nd in the Top 100 of the All-Album Chart and the Emerging Creation Ranking, "Rapping is my second life. I want to do my best in what I love."
The following album collaborated with many big-name hip-hop singers, including Snoop Dogg, Q-Tip, Mozzy, Blxst and new generation singer Jane Handcock. Currently, Lillard's most popular single "Money Ball" has accumulated more than 12 million plays on Spotify.
"My music path is quite unique. I am an atypical music creator, but after listening to it, people will gradually start to respect me as a musician, recognize that I am a genuine hip-hop singer, and take rapping very seriously. Lillard said, "I really hope that one day I can be recognized for my outstanding performance in music, such as attending a performance or being shortlisted and receiving an award."
Goodwin also revealed that many major record companies want to sign a contract with him or inquire about cooperation opportunities. "Damian will still focus on the NBA for now, but he will still explore various options." But Lillard has no shortage of resources and insists. I have to do it all by myself, "I hope it is my own original work, without other elements or interference, just the rhythm of Dame DOLLA."
Dame DOLLA is now well-established in the rap industry. In 2020, she became the first active player to perform as a singer at the All-Star Game. "I am already a respected star player on the court, and I also hope to Getting the same kind of recognition in music and rap, like winning a Grammy."
The fifth album "DonDOLLA" will be released in 2023. Lillard also said that music creation is one of his ways to relax and rest. "Music does not help much in basketball, but it has a very significant help in my mood. Not only is it one of my outlets to vent my stress, but it also helps me maintain a positive attitude." Lillard said, "Basketball is actually very simple, losing or winning, performing well or poorly, but music creation allows me to express myself freely."
Music & Attitude
Whether it’s music or basketball, we have to start with Lillard’s birthplace, Oakland, California. Oakland is one of the top three areas in the United States with a crime rate 191% higher than the average. It is full of drugs, pornography and gang violence. Many of Lillard's friends are also addicted to drugs, or have even been recruited by gangs to become drug dealers or gang thugs. Instead of falling, Lillard became more determined to devote himself to basketball training. In such an environment, he witnessed many tragedies and social realities, which became the nourishment for his future creations.
Lillard believes that music is a form of expression of mood. It not only needs to be catchy, but also situations and experiences are the main sources of inspiration for his creations. After Lillard entered the NBA, he incorporated some emotions and feelings into his songs. When he was a rookie, he wrote about the passion, victory and defeat, experience and hard work of the game. Lillard also had the courage to criticize the current shortcomings, with another single "Bigger Than Us" He boldly explores social issues such as racial discrimination and the police state, and with his strong rap and singing voice, he slowly gathers a group of fans.
Especially as he matures, Lillard often brings moods and feelings into his songs, even as a way to deal with negative people or various criticisms. "When I am questioned or criticized, I will put the current situation Record your mood and try to write it into the lyrics." When Lillard was not selected for the All-Star Game lineup in 2016, he used the single "They Sleep" to crazily diss those who despised him and thought he was not qualified to be an All-Star player.
For example, after the end of the 2021-22 season, he was involved in trade rumors. Some people discovered that he had a song in the new album that was quite clear for himself. The interlude song was called "Mentality Interlude" and mentioned, "Kobe Bryant has never Jumping from high school to a superstar and playing for only one team, I really appreciate this belief that one person, one city, is why I want to follow the same path in Portland." In 2020, Lillard collaborated with Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano to compose a song to commemorate Kobe. This single "Kobe" was also included in "NBA 2K21".
During the NBA's suspension due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Dame DOLLA composed the new song "GOAT Spirit" in collaboration with Raphael Saadiq during the period of isolation at home. The spirit also happened to provide a helping hand to the "Black Lives Matter" racial equality struggle movement. In 2020, Lillard released the single "Blacklist" to express dissatisfaction with the excessive police enforcement in the George Floyd incident, the haze of racial discrimination faced by African Americans, and former US President Donald Trump. It also expressed support for the NFL, which was protesting against racial discrimination and unemployment. Player Colin Kaepernick.
Basketball and rap have a very similar culture of competition and trash talk. If you are defeated by your opponent on the court, you will usually try to get it back in the next round. In the process, there will inevitably be some exchanges of trash talk; while in rap, there is diss. Public competition through songs is a way to resolve mutual grudges. Although it contains slander or insult, it is a style of hip-hop that competes with each other. Even if the loser has a grudge, he can only retaliate by releasing diss works. This also shows the similarities between basketball and rap culture: if I think I am better than you, I will definitely challenge you and strive to take your place; if I don’t like you, I will name you and scold you. If you and I have a grudge, a public fight is the ultimate way to resolve it.
Lillard is not only belligerent as a basketball player, but also often has beef with other players. When Lillard participated in Joe Budden Radio in 2019, he was asked whether his rap was better than Shaq O'Neal. Lillard was noncommittal. "Everyone just likes the person 'Shaq'. I don't think he is a real rapper. Most people just like to hear Shaq rap."
Shaq immediately responded with a single, mocking Lillard for not having MVP skills or even being second-rate. Lillard released the latest diss song "Reign Reign Go Away" to counter O'Neal, who won the championship by relying on Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade; of course O'Neal Unwilling to give up, he released his second diss single "Second Round Knockout", mocking Lillard for losing in the playoffs every time and complaining that he couldn't get audience votes for the All-Star Game. Although they seem to be hot on the stage, Lillard and O'Neal still have a good relationship. The two have also collaborated in some music activities. O'Neal also praised Lillard on the show, "Everything that happened between me and him Everything is entertainment. I think he is a very powerful and talented guy. We are all people who are brave enough to accept challenges and have a lot of fun."
In addition to O'Neal, there are also Marvin Bagley III and JaVale McGee who have also dissed challenges to him. However, no matter how much beef and doubts there are, it is difficult to erase Lillard's status as the number one rapper in the NBA. Even Stephen Jackson, a senior basketball player who has moved into the rap circle, rated him as the strongest rapper in the NBA today, "He can bring in Regarding state of mind and social events, this kind of rapping is quite unique.”
No matter what field he is in or what he does, Lillard maintains a positive, eager and dedicated spirit to execute it. "If I do it, I will do my best and let everyone know me, no matter basketball." It’s the same with music, this is the Damian spirit.”
