Damian Lillard reacted to his long-expected trade to an unexpected destination, the Milwaukee Bucks, with a musical response from his alter ego.
The former Portland Trail Blazers guard, who moonlights as a rapper by the name Dame D.O.L.L.A., dropped a single on social media hours after news broke that he was on the way to Milwaukee as part of a three-team trade also involving the Phoenix Suns.
The title: "Farewell."
The lyrics in "Farewell" feature a number of pointed references to the circumstances of Lillard's exit. It was no secret Lillard wanted out, but his trade request came after years of frustration as a superstar on a team that struggled to build a true contender around him. Additionally, the Blazers drafted G Leaguer Scoot Henderson, who also plays point guard, with the No. 3 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Lillard has lines such as “I said vows just to watch it ended abruptly" and "Amazing what I get in return for this labor," but his feelings are most clear with the final words, "You should know they're the ones who chose another mission."
You can read the song's full lyrics below.
Lillard's trade represents a massive shift for a number of NBA teams, including his preferred destination, the Miami Heat. The Bucks are swapping All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday as well as depth and draft picks for one of the best point guards of the last 10 years, but are further breaking up a core that won a championship in 2021 in the process.
The Suns sent center Deandre Ayton, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, to Portland in exchange for veteran center Jusuf Nurkić and some decent depth pieces, which could be a solid fit for a roster already headlined by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Meanwhile, the Blazers get younger with two tentpole pieces — Henderson and Ayton — while the Heat dwell on what they missed by playing hardball with the Blazers, a process that includes star Jimmy Butler calling for a tampering investigation.
As of now, Lillard figures to enter the 2023-24 season with his best-ever chance at his first NBA title. It's a better situation for him all around, but as "Farewell" showed, it's a bittersweet moment for a man with a claim as the best player in Blazers history.
Damian Lillard's 'Farewell' full lyrics
The early parts of the song focus more on Lillard's personal life, with a quick reference to welterweight champion Terence Crawford (Lillard is a noted boxing fan). He starts focusing on basketball with "All this pain I done endured but you won’t see no grimace."
I be in pocket most days but I got some nutty in meThat's why I pull up in that butter BentleyYeah, it's that perfect balance s*** that all you busters envyAnd I'm still cooking s*** just like my cousin KennyPassed the stage of thinking about who wasn't, wasn't with meSolo mission with my kids I know they f*** with DisneyCut from a cloth that guarantee we cut in historyThe way these dreams is unfolding gotta pluck or pinch meBig Dolla not the lil one, come and eat just like a pilgrimWhole entire family, know I willed 'em out the ghettoBut can't take it out a n****, every state they cop a pictureLot of grace in my charisma. I was heaven sentThe accolades across my letterman indicative of blesses andTouched by the man, not a reverendAll the times that I been severin'Ain't worthy to follow me in the rooms that I'm excelling inIt's nothing fake people can offerIf they get boxed in with me I may turn into CrawfordAll the s*** that's on my plate, it won't fit on a saucerI know all this s*** was written and know who the authorI get low for the FatherYeahNot as devout as I should beFalling victim to the flesh like I'm a kid or a rookieDo I get in line with him or do I get some p****And all my cousins thuggin' and they know how to boogieA lot of praise but still a lot of sinnin'Questioning my own walk watching Gino JenningsI mastered bein' P and now I see no limitsAll this pain I done endured but you won't see no grimaceI'm solid to the finishBeen at the top for a minute, still I'm the real meI can't get caught up in the s*** that didn't build meCause it can kill me, more pricey than my bills beOnly my loved ones make me feel freeI said vows just to watch it ended abruptlyLet some people in and now these n***** disgust meI learned that a wolf can sometimes resemble a huskySwear that you're their dog, then sell you shorter than MuggsyYou live and learn and I know it, that's why I roll with punchesWith each attack, all of my gifts you see grows in abundanceIt gets spicy when a n***** get told he was munchin'When you play with good people, your goals in the dungeonI can never be replaced, they'll know sooner than laterAn arrow pointed at who assumed it was greaterAmazing what I get in return for this laborI continue leaving trails, but it won't be for the BlazersTo the fans, man, I love you, it's unconditionalReasons for me leaving this city is nothing typicalSo it's imperative not to believe their narrativeJust know that what I left is better than what I inheritedI leave at peace because I know at the end that this is businessHope you remember all the things you got to sit and witnessIn the future, man, I hope we greet with hugs and kissesBut you should know they're the ones who chose another missionThey fishin'