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Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard eviscerates Shaq in online rap battle

By Austin Carroll

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 1: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with press conference after the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 1: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with press conference after the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard has taken no mercy on those who challenge his status as the top athlete rapper. But did Shaq do enough to take him down?

Damian Lillard vs. Shaquille O’Neal. Dame D.O.L.L.A. vs. The Big Aristotle. Big Game Dame vs. Diesel. Logo Lillard vs. Shaq Daddy. These two have enough nicknames to fill  a whole page. But while Shaq has enjoyed a journeyman career, Dame has always remained loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Their ideological differences remain consistent and also manifest itself in the way each plays on the court. Lillard is lethal sniper that can break defenses from anywhere on the court. Shaq was a freak of nature capable of bullying opponents down low and imposing his will in the post.

These differences also apparently extend their way into the world of music. As some of you may have seen, Shaq surprised many with his appearance at Lollapalooza, getting crazy in the front row and even playing his own set under the name “DJ Diesel”.

He didn’t stop there however, as Shaq went on to eventually challenge Dame to a rap battle via Instagram. As you may remember, Dame already lyrically dismantled fellow NBA player Marvin Bagley back in June with an ice-cold diss track in response to the young gun trying to usurp his elder in both the basketball and hip-hop industries.

It was only a matter of time before Shaq received the same treatment. Listen to both for yourself and decide who came out on top this time around.

Best lyrics:

  • “Take your time to respond, there is no hurry. You’ll never be Westbrook, never be Steph Curry.”
  • “What’s in your wallet, American Express or Visa? Talking like you’re Bron, you ain’t even Trevor Ariza.”

Best lyrics:

  • “It be wise to move on Aristotle, ’cause this a gimme. All the money in the world, but traded you for Penny.”
  • “Said yourself that I’m a Tesla no longer need diesel gas. Kinda like the Cavs ain’t really need Diesel a**. And even in Miami, won that on the strength of Flash.”
  • “Your flexing ain’t really your thing bro. We both could be working at Kinko’s, and Kobe won you them rings though.”

So who really won this exchange? While Shaq did display an impressive flow all things considered, beating Dame at his own game is a monumental challenge in its own right. Cast your own vote in the poll below before reading our verdict on this showdown between two basketball legends!

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Our Verdict: They don’t call him the best athlete-rapper on the planet for nothing, folks. Dame’s clever wordplay already rivals even the elite personalities in the hip-hop world. While this response wasn’t nearly as viciously personal as the one Marvin Bagley received, the end result was still the same. Sorry Shaq, Dame D.O.L.L.A. still wears the crown when it comes to hip-hop.