My Favorite Dame DOLLA Songs

Everybody knows Damian Lillard can hoop, but did you know he can rap, too?
I did; I’m actually a fan of his.
In a fashion similar to that of retired NBA player and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, Lillard is using his celebrity platform to showcase his vast skill set to the world – not just on the court but off of it as well. The starting point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers – better known as “Dame D.O.L.L.A.” when he’s in the studio booth – is also a respectable recording artist. In fact, the West Coast emcee already boasts two completed albums in his budding music career. Alright, Dame!
The 2017-18 All-NBA First Team selection can do it all, folks. He can dribble, shoot jump shots, slam dunk, pass the ball, and wow the crowd. He can lead his team into the playoffs. He is also a television star, having been featured in commercial spots for Adidas. But, let’s not overlook his vocal talent as a rapper. The man’s got skills.
For fans of the rap/hip-hop genre of music, Dame isn’t someone you want to sleep on. As a multi-talented individual, he’s used his lyrical abilities to quickly establish a fan base for himself, much like he’s done through his athletic abilities. He’s even garnered admiration and respect from many of his peers in the music industry. His track record includes collaborations with A-list artists, such as Jamie Foxx, Juvenile, Lil Wayne, and Marsha Ambrosius.
Dame’s own musical pursuits have even inspired him to use his platform to help showcase other emcees out there. Through Instagram, he created the “4-Bar Friday” challenge to give under-the-radar rappers an opportunity to be heard by a broader audience online. He hopes to use his own record label and celebrity privileges to give his deserving rap peers a shot at success. However you feel about the man as a rapper, you definitely can’t be mad at that.
To check out a few samples of 4-Bar Friday challengers, click here. Browse Dame’s Instagram to see more samples like these.
Below, I’ve listed my favorite cuts by Mr. Do-It-All, thus far. The list is made up of seven songs. In time, of course, the list could grow.
#1 Bigger Than Us
featuring Paul Rey
Comment: This song is one of Dame D.O.L.L.A.’s earliest singles.
#2 Bill Walton
Comment: This song is the opening track on Dame’s full-length debut studio album The Letter O. It is named after a Basketball Hall of Famer. Who knows? Maybe even Dame will go down as a Hall of Famer himself one day after his playing career concludes.
#3 Wasatch Front
Comment: This song is proof that Dame is a storyteller – and a good one at that. You’ll have to really follow along on this track. It details Dame’s remarkable journey from being a struggling college student-athlete to the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. To date, this is one of his deepest songs.
#4 Growth Spurt
featuring Dupre
Comment: Listen to the lyrics closely to catch the one line in the song that references the 2010 Oscar-winning film Inception. That line is CRAZY! Admittedly, that line actually comes from the song’s guest feature, though, not Dame himself.
#5 Misguided
Comment: There’s a reference to Nashville, Tennessee on this song that’s pretty clever. Unlike “Growth Spurt” above, Dame actually does spit this line himself.
#6 Hero
featuring Raphael Saadiq
Comment: This song is included on The Letter O as a bonus track.
#7 Boo’d Up (Remix)
featuring P-Hu$tle
Comment: To watch an in-studio performance of Dame’s verse on this track, click here.
Hi Johanie,
I was just curious as to why the last couple of lines of my article were removed at the end? Was it one of those deals where you just thought they weren’t really necessary? I’m just wondering about that.
Let me know when you see this. Thanks!
-David