Each week on “4 Bar Friday,” NBA players, fans and everyone in between upload the best of what they can do in 15 seconds or less in the hopes of being one of four weekly winners.
According to the #4BARFRIDAY website:
“4 BAR FRIDAY IS A WEEKLY INSTAGRAM BASED FREESTYLE COMPETITION. EVERY FRIDAY, YOU GIVE US YOUR BEST BARS IN 15 SECONDS OR LESS, AND WE’LL HAND PICK THE BEST 4 TO BE FEATURED RIGHT HERE ON THE SITE.”
The competition has been such a success (stars like LeBron James and Paul George have both participated) and Lillard’s verses have gone over so well, that the Blazers point guard is looking to expand his rap repertoire by dropping a 10-song mixtape followed by a debut album later this year.
The All-Star guard is just as confident about his mic skills as he is about his game.
“If my profile continues to increase, I think I can go platinum with my music,” Lillard told of CSNNW.com. “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.”
He certainly did. Shaquille O’Neal has four albums to his credit – Shaq Diesel, Shaq Fu: Da Return, You Can’t Stop The Reign, Respect – and Diesel (his debut) actually did go platinum in 1994.
Although other NBA players tried to crossover to rap with mixed results (Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber, Tony Parker, Metta World Peace, Stephen Jackson, etc…), O’Neal is really the only one who had substantial commercial success.
That doesn’t seem to bother Lillard.
“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.”
Lillard excels at setting up his teammates for easy buckets on the court (5.6 assists-per-game this season) so it only makes sense that he thinks his music will be capable of aiding people off of it.
“I just want to be myself through my music and help people in the process,” Lillard said. “That’s what it’s really all about. It’s not about me. My music will prove that.”
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook
