It’s not enough for Damian Lillard to simply be one of the best young basketball players on the face of the Earth. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year wants to also dominate in the fields of music and movies. Lillard believes his upcoming rap album could go platinum. Per CSNNW:
“If my profile continues to increase, I think I can go platinum with my music,” Lillard said. “Not to knock anybody else who has done it, but I can actually rap. I have a story to tell. It’s not going to just be about basketball. I have more content than that. With the way I know I can get down, and the producers that I’ll align myself with, there’s no reason not to think I couldn’t go platinum. Shaq proved it’s possible.”
The All-Star point guard says he anticipates releasing a mixtape sometime this year consisting of 10 tracks to spawn up some buzz before he drops his first album. Just as smooth and effortless is his shooting stroke; he says freestyling and putting verses together “comes more naturally” to him.
“It’s something that comes easy to me,” Lillard said. “It’s another talent that I have.”
Last year he came up with the concept 4-Bar Friday and turned it into a reality. It’s a weekly freestyle battle using Instagram videos where individuals are urged to provide 15 seconds of off-the-top-of-the-dome lyrics. The best four participants are featured on its official site.
“I’ve been rapping for a long time and now I’m in a position to where I can help others get through their day with my music,” Lillard said. “[Dropping an album] is something that I’m excited about because I know a lot of people don’t expect much from me because they feel they’ve seen this before. But I’m not like the other players that have done it. They’ll see in time.”
Will he be able to invest enough time in the studio in order to put out quality work? Will he be taking on too much? He doesn’t think so.
“All the things I devote my time to are things that are important to me,” Lillard responded. “When it’s important to you, it’s not a hassle or a burden. Like I said, my music will be primarily to help others by telling them a little bit about my life. Plus, the fact that I think that I’m good at it is another reason.”
It doesn’t end there for the venturous second year guard out of Weber State. Lillard is interested in starring in movies, too.
“I’m not an actor but I think it’s something that I can grow into if given time,” he acknowledged. “I would like to play a part like how Ray Allen played Jesus Shuttlesworth. That’s something I’m interested in among some other things.”
