As he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard devoted some time to a major side project.
The nine-time All-Star dropped his Y.A.G.I. mixtape on Friday, which is available on all streaming platforms, under his Dame D.O.L.L.A. stage name. Fans can also cycle through each track on YouTube by using the “next song” icon in the bottom left corner.
Y.A.G.I. includes one track, “Pat Bev,” inspired by veteran NBA guard Patrick Beverley, who was teammates with Lillard on the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3FoBHDvl6kGj2MC4L5tGlI?utm_source=generator
Roman Gokhman of Riff Magazine noted all of the storylines that have surrounded Lillard over the last year and change. On the court, Dame’s game was showing signs of decline prior to his Achilles injury. Off the court, he and estranged wife Kay’La worked through a divorce.
Gokhman wrote how Y.A.G.I. is “not as complete of a record or a story as 2023’s Don D.O.L.L.A., but it’s not meant to be” as Lillard used his life as inspiration for his songwriting.
“Opener ‘Homecoming’ is Y.A.G.I.‘s best track,” Gokhman said. “It’s about stepping up as a father with shared custody, his bumpy ride in Milwaukee, having to overcome the torn achilles that ended his time there, and about one day getting his flowers for balancing his basketball skills with his responsibilities as an upstanding citizen and a family man. Lillard handles the first few bars over a piano-led melody and organic, woodsy beat.”
Lillard’s return to Portland made for a great story. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Blazers and is one of the greatest players in franchise history. Because of his Achilles injury, it’s still unclear when he’ll actually be able to suit up for his old team.
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