In 2016, DC the Don’s hoop and music dreams converged when the rapper, then just 16, moved from Milwaukee to Long Beach, California to play basketball alongside AAU teammate and future NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball. DC the Don’s interest in music dates back to his childhood, when he first started writing songs and performing routines for his family at his childhood home. He already stands out at a towering 6’7,” but DC the Don’s relocation to the West Coast created another path for his looming potential thanks to a crucial assist from the Ball family.
DC the Don was working on his music while he was working on his game, crafting DC the melodic hip-hop that’s earned him a respectable following through self-promotion. DC the Don’s relationship with the Ball family blossomed following the move, which led to his song “Everything 1K” being used as the soundtrack in the commercial for Lonzo Ball’s first signature sneaker. After releasing music on SoundCloud, the buzz around singles such as “Meet Whitney” and “Kill Streak” led to a deal with Rostrum Records in 2020. DC the Don’s debut album, Come As You Are, was released the same year, and he followed it up with My Own Worst Enemy in 2022. “Jesus Can’t Save You” and “ECLIPSE,” from Come As You Are, have over five million plays on SoundCloud to date.
Now, DC the Don is partnering with SoundCloud on a collection of customized basketballs which combine his two passions.
The collection, which features DC the Don’s creative direction, is inspired by his “Rag3 Kidd” and My Own Worst Enemy album. The release involved fans receiving a push notification to listen to the album, with the top-listeners securing one of the limited edition basketballs.
Overall, the partnership allows DC the Don to deepen his relationship with fans while celebrating two of his favorite outlets. It’s also a full-circle moment for the rapper, who began his career by uploading music to SoundCloud and has reached new heights as an artist while continuing to share his music on the platform.
My Own Worst Enemy is an expansion of DC the Don’s sound. The album features a tug-of-war between two personas—RAG3 KIDD and DONNY—with the production shifting from upbeat to dark in accordance to the shift between characters.
Check out My Own Worst Enemy, then listen to more of DC the Don’s music here.
LISTEN TO MY OWN WORST ENEMY