NCAA’s women’s basketball season officially tips off this Sunday, but although LSU’s junior guard Flau’jae Johnson has had her hands full with the team’s as-yet-undefeated preseason schedule, she’s still found time for her second career. In addition to averaging 22 points and 6 rebounds a game, Flau’jae moonlights as a rapper — and she’s just as skilled off the court as she is on it. She proves as much in the video for her new song “Legendary Flows,” which was shot at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center — best known as the home arena for LSU’s Tigers basketball teams.
“Legendary Flows” appears on the deluxe version of Flau’jae’s Best of Both Worlds EP, which updated the Savannah native’s June debut with four new tracks, including “Big Bag,” “Lone Survivor,” “Master Plan,” and “Red Toes.” It continued her strong musical showing in 2024, which included collaborating with Wyclef Jean on “Paper Right,” her anticipated Lil Wayne collaboration “Came Out A Beast,” and her inclusion on Culture Jam’s WNBA collaboration, “Can’t Get Enough” with BIA and Lakeyah.
As solid as her rap career has been, it looks like Flau’jae’s future still very much lies with basketball — at least, for now. The NCAA champion has the opportunity to acquire its second national championship of Johnson’s tenure, this time with Flau’jae herself at the helm. Their tune-up exhibition games have included a 117-44 blowout against Charleston Southern and a 95-36 beatdown of Northwestern State in the past month. While that’s no guarantee they’ll flatten ranked opponents the same way, it’s a good indicator they aren’t resting on their laurels.
You can watch Flau’jae’s “Legendary Flows” video above.
The biggest strength of Flau’jae Johnson’s game? Her vision, on the court and in the studio.
The 2023 NCAA Champion, LSU guard, and rising rap star saw how nurturing her two passions – music and hoops – could help her pave her own path to success from an early age. She was spitting lines as young as age seven, performing in clubs around Savannah, Georgia and entering massively popular TV competitions like America’s Got Talent while practicing in the paint, developing her skills to catch the attention of Coach Kim Mulkey at the beginning of her high school career. In everything she does, on the stage and in the arena, there’s a strategy, a playbook, a game plan to reach the next level.
Just ask Lil Wayne.
In a new episode of UPROXX’s Beyond The Game, host Jeremy Hecht sat down with Johnson to chat about her meteoric rise in the worlds of music and sports and the smart strategic moves she has made along the way.
After giving WNBA legend Sue Bird a shout-out for introducing the Young Money mogul to her music during an interview on her ESPN talk show, Johnson mapped out how she seized her moment, initially connecting with Wayne on social before showing off her lyricism to one of his beats on a Sway In The Morning freestyle. The viral posts, the song selection, her choice of fit (a Tha Carter IV tee) – it was a play Mulkey herself might’ve drawn up, and it scored her a collab with the hip-hop icon.
“I had it all planned out,” Johnson tells Hecht in the video above. “This is going to go viral, he’s going to see it, and that’s what happened. It was all strategy. I gotta inspire him to want to do it.”
That hustle mentality is something Johnson was born with. The daughter of the late Camouflage, a promising young rapper from Savannah who died before his daughter was born, Johnson has always been determined to make her mark. She gained a following at an early age thanks to her reality competition appearances, working with Jermaine Dupree on a talent series that got her industry attention, but when music seemed to stall and basketball courted her, Johnson’s circle never let her give up on her initial dream. She credits her family – her mom, grandmother, and siblings – for believing in her multihyphenate abilities, and herself for making the choice to be more. More than just a rapper. More than just a basketball player. But instead, a cross-cultural icon-in-the-making.
“The price of regret is worse than the pain of getting it done right now,” Johnson told Hecht of the mentality she’s adopted to juggle the demanding schedules of collegiate ball and on-the-rise artist, adding she’s often guided by a simple question, “Are you going to be great today or are you going to be mediocre?”
That word doesn’t seem to fit all the young star has accomplished so far, from SEC titles and NCAA trophies to collaborations with Wayne and Wyclef Jean who’s dubbed their partnership in the booth as, “like Shaq and Kobe.” It certainly doesn’t describe Johnson’s no-holds-barred chat with Hecht where she recounts her unlikely beginnings as a rapper and ball player, her reality TV run, her fearlessness and setbacks, the artists she admires, and the songs that get her hype.
Nothing is off the table, in the episode and in terms of Johnson’s potential.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana has become one of the hotbeds for the explosion of popularity in women’s basketball, as the LSU Tigers became a national powerhouse, led by stars Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson. Part of what made that LSU squad stand out wasn’t just their dominance on the floor, but the larger than life personalities of their top stars, who have ascended to superstardom on and off the court.
Flau’jae, meanwhile, will be returning to LSU this fall but has also seen her star continue to grow this summer, as she dropped her debut rap album, Best of Both Worlds, in late June — with some features from star artists like Lil Wayne. She performed at the ESPYs and was all over WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, which included dropping a new track “Can’t Get Enough” with Culture Jam alongside BIA and Lakeyah. The music video for the song released on Wednesday, showing the artists making a road trip from L.A. to Phoenix for WNBA All-Star, and the song will be the official track for the WNBA on ESPN.
“Being part of ‘Can’t Get Enough’ with BIA and Lakeyah has been amazing,” Johnson said in a release. “This track is all about celebrating the strength and power of women in sports and music. It’s an honor to work with Culture Jam, the WNBA, and ESPN to bring this anthem to life. We’re bringing the energy, the passion, and the love for the game.”
Flau’jae Johnson was able to land a collaboration with Lil Wayne on the track, “Came Out a Beast,” from her new project, Best of Both Worlds. The LSU Tigers basketball star dropped the nine-track album on Friday. In a statement caught by Complex, she said of the collaboration: “Working with Lil Wayne on ‘Came Out a Beast’ was a surreal experience. His energy and talent pushed me to new heights.”
On the song, Flau’jae raps about her basketball skills over production by Dolla Baby. Fans on YouTube have been loving the track. “Flau’jae broke it down and Wayne rolled it up straight fire,” one user commented. Another wrote: “Shorty you a beast fr cause you still. Hooping at a high level and arguably one of the dopest female mcs out!! Keep grinding shorty the time is yours.” The project also features NLE Choppa and 2Rare.
Flau’jae Johnson Speaks During BET Experience Fan Fest
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 28: Flau’jae Johnson speaks during the NFL Voting Panel on the BETX Main Stage: Where Black Music Lives during the 2024 BET Experience Fan Fest at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 28, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
The title of the album stems from her love of both basketball and music. “I love combining my two talents. Best of Both Worlds shows you don’t have to choose one path—you can excel in multiple arenas,” Flau’jae said. “This project reflects who I am—a basketball player, a rapper, and someone who refuses to be put in a box. I hope my fans can feel the passion and dedication I’ve poured into every song.”
Flau’jae Johnson Celebrates Working With Lil Wayne
Check out a clip of Johnson hanging with Lil Wayne above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Lil Wayne as well as Flau’jae Johnson on HotNewHipHop.
The 2024 BET Awards celebrate amazing talents from the Black community from various fields. On May 17, 2024, BET released the full list of nominees for its 2024 Awards ceremony. Despite suffering a huge blow in his beef with Kendrick Lamar, Drake heads the nominations list for the BET Awards 2024 with seven nominations. He is followed closely by Nicki Minaj with six nominations. Meanwhile, Beyoncé got four nominations, while Victoria Monét has five nominations.
Like previous years, the BET Awards 2024 will include the Sportswoman of the Year category, which celebrates the most successful woman in sports from the previous year. The BET Sportswoman of the Year 2024 nominees are A’Ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, Flau’Jae Johnson and Juju Watkins. Other nominees for the prestigious award include Naomi Osaka, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Simone Biles. Follow as we x-ray each of the nominees for the BET Awards 2024 Sportswoman of the Year and discover their achievements in 2023.
WNBA and Los Angeles Aces star A’Ja Wilson enjoyed a stellar 2023 filled with personal and team glories. She played a pivotal role in the Aces’ run to the 2023 WNBA Championships. Victory over New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals meant the Aces won their second consecutive title after their 2022 triumph. Hence, they became the first WNBA team to win back-to-back Championship titles since the Los Angeles Sparks did the same in 2001 and 2002. A’Ja propelled her team to victory with her inspiring performances. She posted averages of 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the finals. Thus, she unsurprisingly won the Finals MVP, the first in her career.
Besides winning the WNBA Championships back-to-back, A’Ja was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. That accolade meant she won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in a row after her 2022 win. A’ Ja is not only brilliant on the court but off of it, too. She is known for being an advocate for mental health awareness and racial equality. Through her platform, she promotes positive change and supports several charitable causes.
Angel Reese
Angel Reese’s stock in female basketball continues to rise. Her BET Awards 2024 nomination for Sportswoman of the Year is a testament to her significant impact in basketball within a short time. After spending her first two college seasons with the Maryland Terrapins, Angel joined the LSU Tigers in 2022. She went on to enjoy incredible success with the Tigers, helping them win their first national title at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
Since then, Angel has added more accolades to her name. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Reese is also a two-time All-American Player and grabbed the Southern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year Title at the end of the 2023-2024 season.’Angel has added more accolades to her name. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Moreover, she is a two-time All-American Player and grabbed the Southern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year Title at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
In addition to these, Angel was named to the first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team in her two seasons at LSU. On April 15, 2024, Angel got drafted into the WNBA. She was the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Chicago Sky drafted Angel, who has enjoyed a good start to her WNBA career. On May 17, Angel added another feather to her cap after LSU announced her graduation. Besides basketball, Angel enjoys engaging in community development and youth empowerment projects. Angel will hope to win the BET Sportswoman of the Year award for the second time in a row after winning it last year.
Coco Gauff became a tennis sensation after her WTA Tour debut in 2019. The Atlanta-born athlete first made the world take notice of her incredulous talent after defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2019. Since then, Coco has only gone on to achieve greater things. Her first WTA Tour singles title win came in 2019 at the Linz Open. She reached her first major final in women’s double two years later at the 2021 US Open. In 2022, Coco reached the French Open final but lost to Iga Świątek.
However, Coco wasn’t to be denied in 2023. Last year, she claimed her first WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Masters before going on to win her first Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open finals. Away from the tennis courts, Coco uses her influence to inspire young athletes to be agents of change in their communities. This is Coco’s second nomination for the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, and she hopes to be second-time lucky this time around.
LSU Tigers player Flau’jae Johnson rose from difficult circumstances to become a rising sportswoman and rapper. About six months before Flau’jae’s birth, her dad, a rapper named Camouflage, was shot and killed in May 2003. Flau’jae grew up loving and playing sports. She played baseball at a young age before going on to play basketball for Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. Flau’jae was exceptional in her time at Sprayberry High School and carried on with that momentum at LSU, where she became the Tigers’ starting shooting guard in her freshman year. She helped the Tigers win the national championship in her freshman year and was named the 2022-2023 SEC Freshman of the Year. She also made the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2023 and Second-team All-SEC in 2024.
Inspired by her late dad, Flau’jae became a rapper to continue his legacy. She is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and has appeared on The Rap Game and America’s Got Talent. Combining being a college student with being a top-rated NCAA star and rapper is no mean feat, but Flau’jae is doing it with class. Hence, she is a role model for aspiring athletes and artists and proves that hard work always gets you far.
Juju Watkins is an amazing talent and already has a truckload of awards and honors to prove this. After dazzling and earning rave reviews at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, Juju committed to the University of Southern California in November 2022. She continued with her incredible performances for the USC Trojans, breaking records and winning awards along the way. Some of Juju’s recognitions include the ESPN National Freshman of the Year Award 2023, the Gatorade National Player of the Year 2023, and the All-Pac-12 Team for 2024.
Juju is known for her exceptional scoring prowess. She set the record for points in a freshman debut, breaking Lisa Leslie’s record set in 1990. She also broke the USC single-game scoring record previously held by Cherie Nelson and set in 1989. Juju also helped the US win the FIBA U-17 World Cup in 2022 and was named the tournament’s MVP. Besides her ability to make baskets, Juju is athletic and has a high basketball IQ. She is definitely a promising talent bound to make more history in the coming years.
Naomi Osaka earned her sixth BET Sportswoman of the Year nomination. The two-time winner of the prestigious award will be hoping to win it for the third time after her 2021 and 2022 successes. Naomi needs no introduction. The 26-year-old has won four Grand Slam titles and is well on her way to becoming a sports icon. However, Naomi played little tennis in 2023. In January 2023, she announced she was expecting a baby with her boyfriend and rapper Cordae. The tennis star withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open and announced she won’t compete for the rest of the year. In July 2023, Naomi welcomed her daughter, Shai. She returned to professional tennis in January 2024 at Brisbane. Naomi competed at the 2024 Australian Open but lost in the first round.
Naomi is known for her activism, for which he has received multiple accolades. In 2020, she withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to raise awareness for the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Before then, she joined protesters in calling for justice after George Floyd’s murder. After giving birth, Naomi also called for the United States to introduce paid parental leave. Besides her activism, Naomi has also dealt with mental health issues. She has dealt with depression since 2018 and withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon in 2021 to deal with her mental health and well-being. Naomi also promotes charitable causes and urges athletes to take their self-care more seriously.
Sha’Carri Richardson
This is Sha’Carri Richardson’s third consecutive nomination for the BET Sportswoman of the Year. After a remarkable 2023, the athlete will be hoping she is third-time lucky. The world’s fastest woman is arguably the current face of women’s track and field. Sha’Carri endured a difficult 2021 and missed out on the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC metabolites, which indicated recent cannabis use. She was suspended for a month after the test results and completed a counseling program. After a not-so-good 2022, Sha’Carri came back firing in 2023. She won the Diamond League 100m race in Doha, setting a new meeting record of 10.76s.
Sha’Carri qualified for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with a time of 10.82s at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She enjoyed a successful stay in Budapest, winning her first major individual title by beating every other competitor to the 100m gold medal, posting a time of 10.65s. Sha’Carri also won the 200m bronze medal at the championships before helping Team USA win gold at the 4 x 100m relay. Team USA, comprising Sha’Carri, Tamari Davis, Gabrielle Thomas, and Twanisha Terry, set a championship record, posting a time of 41.03s. Known for her long nails and colorful hair, Sha’Carri identifies as bisexual and supports the LGBTQ+ community. Her positivity, incredible speed, and vibrant personality have endeared her to millions of fans worldwide.
Simone Biles won the BET Sportswoman of the Year award in 2020 and has been nominated multiple times. Her nomination for the BET Awards 2024 comes after an impressive 2023. Simone endured a difficult 2021 after leaving the Tokyo Olympic Games due to mental health struggles. Her decision to quit the games sparked much discussion, with some commentators criticizing her while multiple gymnasts praised her. Biles bounced back in 2023 and competed at the US Classic, where she qualified for the US National Championships. Simone won her eighth national all-around title, breaking Al Jochim’s previous record of seven national title wins. She also became the oldest woman to win the title.
Simone continued her stellar performance at the World Championships, where she helped the US team win a seventh consecutive gold medal. She also won her sixth all-around gold medal, surpassing Vitaly Scherbo as the most successful gymnast of all time at the World and Olympic championships. Simone won six gold medals at the World Championships, becoming the first gymnast in World Championships history to win many titles on one apparatus. 2023 was also a successful year in Simone’s personal life as she tied the knot with her long-term boyfriend and NFL star Jonathan Owens on April 22, 2023.
On Jan. 17th, POWERADE proudly announced the addition of college basketball standouts Flau’Jae Johnson from Louisiana State University (LSU) and Isaiah Collier from the University of Southern California (USC) to its roster of athlete partners.
Flau’Jae and Isaiah join an impressive lineup of athletes associated with POWERADE through the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiative. This includes highly rated 2024 NFL Draft prospects such as LSU Tigers QB Jayden Daniels and FSU Seminoles DE Jared Verse, along with UGA Bulldogs QB Malaki Starks, USC Trojans WR Mario Williams, and Iowa Hawkeyes RB Kalen Johnson.
In addition to individual athlete partnerships, POWERADE serves as the Official Hydration Partner for over 20 college programs, including LSU and USC.
Flau’Jae and Isaiah will feature prominently in upcoming national marketing campaigns, retail and sponsorship events, OOH advertising, and digital and social media activations. Both athletes, at 20 and 19 years old, respectively, bring impressive accolades, with Flau’Jae named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023 and Isaiah honored as the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game MVP.
These partnerships follow POWERADE’s recent introduction of an all-new formula and packaging in 2023, delivering a great-tasting formula with 50% more electrolytes than the Gatorade Thirst Quencher.
The “rags to riches” tale is a staple of hip-hop, so much so that on Wyclef Jean’s new song “Paper Right,” he’s able to recruit a whole posse cut worth of rappers to help him detail how to stack enough cash to retire a couple of generations. Interestingly, in addition to employing Pusha T, one of rap’s most notable street prophets-turned-business moguls, he also lends the spotlight to a trio of rising stars in Lola Brooke, Flau’jae Johnson, and singer Capella Grety.
The song is part of an outreach program by The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) called Retire Inequality. According to the campaign’s website, its mission is to provide savings and investment information to Black Americans, who are likely to not have enough savings to retire. To that end, “Paper Right” references generational wealth multiple times, as well as investing advice, like real estate and side hustling; funnily enough, it might be the first time we’ve ever heard Pusha repudiate the drug game mentality that he’s espoused on basically every other thing he’s recorded (even those odd Arby’s jingles he did a couple of years ago).
All of those artists — save Flau’jae, who’s in the middle of LSU’s basketball season — appeared on The Tonight Show to perform the track last night. Check it out below.
LSU sophomore Flau’jae Johnson took some time away from Baton Rouge to perform at a Rod Wave concert in Atlanta. Johnson performed a few of the tracks she has released in recent years, including her best-known hit, “Big 4”. Previously, Johnson has performed at a LeBron James party as well as LSU’s national championship celebration back in April.
However, her music has also proven controversial at times. On May 9, LSU guard and rapper Flau’jae Johnson dropped a remix of Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor”. In putting her own style on the track, Johnson included the lyric “In this 911, blowing smoke like them towers.” The song quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons, with right-wing outlets such as Fox and Outkick very angry at Johnson for “mocking” 9/11. However, Johnson later issued an apology. “I just want to come on here and let ya’ll know by no means would I ever intentionally try to disrespect or offend anyone. My whole goal in music is to push positivity and spread love. So, in no way shape or form would I ever intentionally try to disrespect or offend anyone,” Johnson wrote on Instagram.
On the court, Johnson is showing why she was named SEC Freshman of the Year last season. While she is no longer an instant starter, she is playing more minutes and has seen an increase in almost every statistical category. While she’s only played less than a third of the games she did last year, it’s clear that Johnson has taken all of the right lessons from Kim Mulkey’s coaching.
LSU are 10-1, having gone undefeated since the shock loss in their season opener. However, much like last year, the Tigers have faced criticism for their non-conference schedule. An 89-point margin of victory of McNeese highlights that LSU isn’t playing the highest quality opponents. They’ve played just two ranked matchups in Colorado and Virginia Tech. By comparison, the SEC-leading South Carolina, who is also No. 1 in the country, has played four top-25 opponents already this season.
The parents of Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson have begun beefing online as drama grips the LSU women’s basketball team. “You definitely know about grammar errors when your daughter got a 2.0 or less GPA,” one post aimed at Reese read. Furthermore, graduated Tigers Alexis Morris and Jasmine Carson also weighed in on the current situation. Morris said that the team better not be “falling apart without her” after they “switched up to gang up on me”. Meanwhile, Carson warned “y’all better hope I don’t say nothing.”
Reese was completely absent from LSU’s road trip to Southeastern Louisiana, with head coach Kim Mulkey refusing to answer questions on where Reese was. The Tigers won out 73-50 over the Lions, who are ranked #168 in the nation according to the latest NET rankings. Johnson, playing off the bench, had a double-double with a game-high 17 points.
LSU appeared to have buckled under the pressure that comes with being the defending national champions. They lost their season-opener to then #20 Colorado, one of the few truly competitive games on their non-conference slate. While they have quickly improved to 4-1 with wins over Queens, Mississippi Valley State, Kent State, and Southeastern Louisiana, all is not well within the Tigers camp.
However, head coach Kim Mulkey benched Reese for the entire second half against Kent State, calling it a “coach’s decision”. Then, just days later, Reese was off the team sheet entirely. As mentioned, Mulkey refused to say much about why Reese was away from the team. “Angel was not in uniform. Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope to see her sooner than later,” Mulkey said matter-of-factly. However, Reese wasn’t just out of uniform. It appeared that she had not made the 50-mile journey to Hammond at all. The Tigers return home on Monday to face Texas Southern. The game is the start of a six-game homestand that includes #9 Virginia Tech. It remains to be seen when Reese will return to the lineup.
Angel Reese and several of her LSU teammates recent namely their all-time basketball starting lineups. Reese kicked things off with a twist. “I’m starting strong with Lisa Leslie,” Reese said before filling her lineup out with Cheryl Miller, Kobe, Shaq, and most surprisingly, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey. Mulkey was a national championship winning point guard with LA Tech in the early 80s. Sophomore Flau’jae Johnson also named Mulkey to her lineup and also agreed with Reese on Shaq. However, Johnson also picked Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson.
Meanwhile, new transfer Hailey Van Lith went in a different direction entirely. After naming Kobe and the aforementioned Lisa Leslie, Van Lith also selected Becky Hammon, Kevin Garnett, and Micheal Jordan. “That’s a tough starting five, right there. Mad tough,” Van Lith said of her team. The question came about as apart of an interview the players did ahead of the Hall of Fame Series, the traditional marquee event to open the college basketball season. The basketball season kicks off next week.
Meanwhile, oddsmakers have revealed the Tigers as their title favorites ahead of the start of the women’s basketball season next week. The Tigers are +230 favorites on FanDuel and +300 favorites on DraftKings. Just behind LSU is UConn at +500 and +600 on the two sites respectively. Furthermore, LSU and UConn are #1 and #2 in both the AP‘s preseason poll and ESPN‘s preseason bracketology. LSU opens the season against #20 Colorado in Las Vegas next week.
The Tigers are also seeking to become the first team since the UConn four-peat to repeat as National Champions. To maximize their chances, head coach Kim Mulkey built a superteam from recruiting and the portal. She has two top-7 freshmen and added Aneesah Morrow from DePaul and Hailey van Lith from Louisville. These additions are a huge reason for the preseason hype surrounding LSU. However, experts have also noted that if the lineup fails to be cohesive, it may spell disaster for the team.
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