Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard also has a hip-hop career, and he recently partnered with an emerging local startup to release his latest music.
Lillard, whose musical name is DAME D.O.L.L.A, released new songs on Nov. 23 that are available on streaming platforms including EVEN, a direct-to-consumer music platform founded in Milwaukee by Even Labs Inc.
The new collection of songs is titled "Life Lately" and covers topics including Lillard's late-September trade to the Bucks from the Portland Trail Blazers, as well as his divorce, according to EVEN.
EVEN enables artists and record labels to sell music directly to fans before uploading it to streaming platforms.
Fans who purchase Lillard's music on EVEN get access to exclusive offerings, including the chance to win tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks game and a meet-and-greet with Lillard.
Lillard released the EP through his label, Front Page Music Inc. He has released multiple albums since 2016.
EVEN CEO and founder Mag Rodriguez said Lillard's music team first reached out with interest in the platform in late August, prior to his trade to the Bucks. Now that Lillard is in Milwaukee, he's looking to establish a local presence for his music career and EVEN has been a resource in that capacity, Rodriguez said.
Earlier this year, EVEN raised $2.2 million from local investors including CSA Partners, a venture capital firm led by former Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, and VC 414, a firm co-led by Jennifer Abele and Raquel Filmanowicz. Wisconsin-based startup accelerator gener8tor was also an early investor.
About a year after soft-launching in October 2022, EVEN recently launched its open beta, making it available to a waitlist of more than 25,000 artists, according to the startup.
