Flau'jae Johnson debuts first EP, collaboration with Lil Wayne
As she rose to stardom on the court at LSU, Flau’jae Johnson also made plans to start a music career. She took a big step toward that path Friday.
Johnson released her first album Friday morning, titled Best of Both Worlds. The nine-song EP included a collaboration with Lil Wayne on a song titled “Came Out A Beast” and is available on all streaming services.
Johnson has balanced her basketball career with music and NIL ventures during her time at LSU, and she recently told On3’s Talia Goodman it’s part of her plan to build her brand. She’s become one of the most visible women’s basketball players in the country, and she’s now further capitalizing in the music space.
“Determining the value for NIL deals is something I take very seriously,” Johnson said. “Between my music career and brand endorsements, my deals amount to about $4.5 million, which gives a substantial indication of my market value.
“While I stay actively involved in understanding this value, I heavily rely on my team of advisors, including my representation, to negotiate deals that reflect my worth accurately. They use a combination of market trends, my performance metrics, and personal brand impact to evaluate opportunities.”
Flau’jae Johnson continues to succeed on, off court
With 3.4 million followers on social media, including 1.9 million on Instagram, Johnson has an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.2 million, which ranks No. 1 in the On3 College Women’s Basketball NIL Ranking. She also sits at No. 15 in the On3 NIL 100 – the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.
In the NIL space, Johnson notably secured partnerships with Powerade, The Athletes Foot and PUMA since arriving at LSU in 2022. On the court, though, she shined and cemented herself as a piece of the future in Baton Rouge. Last season, she averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 38% from three-point distance.
With Angel Reese off to the WNBA with the Chicago Sky and Hailey Van Lith now at TCU, Johnson and Aneesah Morrow are sure to be important parts of the operation at LSU after a national championship in 2023 and an Elite Eight appearance last season. But balance is key for Johnson, who said she also tries to stay positive while dealing with social media and growing her brand.
“I do check my social media accounts because it’s important for me to stay connected with my fans and the community,” Johnson said. “However, dealing with trolls and negativity is part of being in the public eye. I grew up on TV and in front of the media so I learned to navigate and ignore negativity and trolls a long time ago. I focus on staying positive and true to my values.”