Damian Lillard Teases Fourth Album as Dame D.O.L.L.A.
Much has been made of Damian Lillard hobnobbing with LeBron James courtside at a recent Los Angeles Sparks game. Was their hearty embrace and knowing laughs evidence of the superstars' plans to orchestrate a frustrated Lillard's trade from the Trail Blazers to the Lakers?
James, after all, has made no secret of his affinity for Lillard, regularly picking him first in drafting for the NBA All-Star Game. Asked by reporters in 2018 if Lillard was "underappreciated," James matter-of-factly disagreed—hardly a criticism.
Lillard is clearly disgruntled with Portland and James has no doubt broached the topic of them playing together before. But it turns out one of the best basketball players in the world, with multiple high-profile endorsement deals and numerous off-court business and entertainment ventures, could have more reason to be near Los Angeles than plotting his departure from the Pacific Northwest.
Lillard teased his fourth album as Dame D.O.L.L.A. on Instagram Saturday, posting a photo from what appears to be a shoot for album art or a music video in the Southern California desert.
Considered by many as the best emcee to ever play in the NBA, Dame D.O.L.L.A. released his first full-length album, The Letter O, in 2016. He dropped Confirmed a year later, and in 2019 further staked his claim as a crossover star with the critically acclaimed Big D.O.L.L.A., Lillard's debut album with his record label, Front Page Music.
Lillard's latest album included features from the likes of Lil' Wayne, Jeremih, Jadakiss and G-Eazy, among others. Further burnishing his standing in the rap game was J. Cole including snippets from two of Lillard's most iconic post-game interviews on "p u n c h i n ' . t h e . c l o c k," the fifth track on The Off-Season, Cole's number one album released in May.
Lillard joins James as a co-star in the upcoming blockbuster Space Jam: A New Legacy. Could their next collaboration come in forum blue and gold? Lillard being under contract through 2023-24 and the Lakers' lack of worthwhile trade assets make it highly unlikely, James' desires be damned.
But that won't stop the masses from speculating every time Lillard steps foot in Los Angeles, even doing work as Dame D.O.L.L.A.