Shaquille O'Neal Responds To Damian Lillard's Rap Comments With Diss Track

BY Erika Marie 27.2K Views
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Shaquille O'Neal
Don't mess with Diesel.

Although he was considered one of the greatest NBA players of his time, Shaquille O'Neal wants you to put respect on his rap career. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been making moves in the music industry as he released his full-length project Big D.O.L.L.A. last month. Lillard has also shared freestyles and expressed that he hopes to become the first NBA player to win a Grammy Award, but his recent comments about O'Neal sent social media abuzz.

"I think I rap better than Shaq," Lillard said on The Joe Budden Podcast. "I've heard Shaq's stuff. I've like...I think people was like...I think he was viewed as Shaq. People was like, this [is] Shaq. It wasn't like, Shaq and Biggie. People weren't looking like this [is] a real rapper. It was like, 'That’s Shaq rapping.' So, of course, it was a big deal."

Shaq Diesel didn't immediately respond to Lillard's comments, but he recently surfaced with a diss track. He shared the three-and-a-half-minute song on Instagram, opening by saying, "Daddy has to come out of retirement to spank one of these undisciplined children." Shaq goes on to show that no matter how long he's been out of the game, he still has a few bars left in him. "How you say that you better than Dies / When you ain't got more cheddar than Dies / What you talkin' bout? / Legendary I'm a hip hop scholar / I'm tryin' to get a billion who gives a f*ck about a D.O.L.L.A." Check out Shaq's flow below and let us know what you think.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.