October 17, 2024 • 19 mins
Khristina is joined by National Championship winning guard for LSU as well as successful Rap Artist Flau’jae Johnson. They discuss her performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards, her new EP “Best of Both Worlds” and her connection with the legendary Lil Wayne.
Plus they talk about her relationship with Coach Kim Mulkey, how Flau’jae is taking on more of a leadership role after the departure of Angel Reese, and her expectations for LSU Women’s Basketball this season.
Flau’jae opens up about the massive role her mother has played in her success, how she deals with the haters that have come to the Women’s College game, and she even names her Top 4 Female Rappers right now!
Want more women’s basketball scoop?
Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review!
CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Supervising Producer:
Peter Coughter
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to another episode of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams here on the iHeartRadio app
and y'all, I'm super excited. This is a legendary episode.
(00:23):
I'm so excited to introduce this week's guest. She's a
national champion at LSU. She's a rap superstar, the biggest
foe of the ball. Please welcome in Plauj Johnson to
the show. Thank you for having me so, I know
that you've been super busy. Brush off of your performance
from the BET Hip Hop Awards, What was it like
for you to be on that big stage and performance.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No, it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You know, as an artist, that's something that you want
to do, Like that's one of those things where it's like, Okay,
if I get on this stage, then i know I'm
on the right direction. And so it was one of
those moments. Also one of those full circle moments because
I've been the BT about three times and I'm almost like,
dang bro when I get my chance to be on
that stage. And even though it was just the you know,
(01:07):
the Nissan Ultimate Amplified Stage. It was still a big
step for me because it's just another stage for people
to know that I take.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
This music thing serious.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
And I think that's been a battle with you know,
me being a basketball playing an artists and just I
don't know, hard for people to wrap their head around that.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I'm just talented at both things.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
So whenever I get to get on the stage and
perform and kind of put my best foot forward, I
always try to.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But it was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
You talked about how people perceive you doing both, you know,
music and playing basketball. What's the most difficult part about
maintaining that balance for.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You man, just about the consistency in music. You know,
I'm consistent every day in basketball, but just the consistency
in music and just you know, kind of guilt trip
for myself. I get so headstrong and just to keeping
the main thing the main thing, and I got to
just give myself grade sometimes because I'm doing something nobody
has ever done. So it's just like, dang, I don't
want to mess up, but it's like I can't mess
up because I'm creating my own blueprint. So I think
(02:00):
just kind of just working hard in both of them
and just staying true to what I do, not thinking
too much about it.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Listen, congrats on all your recent success. I mean I
personally saw you perform at the boardroom party at w
NBA All Star. I felt like you should have been
on that halftime stage at the All Star.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
But that also paypall. But best of.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Both worlds is your EP that you released this past summer.
Came out of Beasts, the music video and song with
Lil Wayne. I want to know personally, how did you
get coached Smokey convince her to be in that music video?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Man? I told her in the video she know, Nah,
she know Coach Muky is supportive as long as I'm
handling my bsness on the court, and she's gonna ride
behind me one hundred and ten percent, and she do
any of her players. So it was a small ass.
I told her, I have you that ten minutes, you
in and out. She did her thing and we got
it done. But you know case real superstar, so well,
(02:53):
you know, I ain't know she was gonna put on
the outfit and everything, but she really turned it up
for me.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
So I appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I know everybody in the basketball loves Coach Mokey's outfits,
and I've got to know a lot of players who've
played for her over the last several years. What is
it about Coach Mooky that bakes players want to run
through a wall for her?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I think her passion.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I think once you see somebody so passionate about something,
it kind of just bring everybody on board.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
She passionate and she consistent.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Every day she wake up and kind of choose greatness,
and she does it at a high level. So that's
something that you could you just inspired by every day.
You inspired by that greatness, You inspired by that. So
I think it's easy to follow somebody who really leave
by example every day.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Going back to the music came out of Beast, you
got one of the biggest features in Lil Wayne, one
of the greatest rappers alive. What was that moment like
for you to just get that co sign from him?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, man, it's still crazy. Still kind of ain't processing
or wrap my head all the way around it. Just
you know, those one of them things I'm gonna look
back when I'm older and be like, Wow, you really
did that at that age.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
But man, it was amazing, bro. He just show love.
He's still showing love like it never stopped. Like he's
a great guy. I'm a fan. He a fan of me,
which is dope.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
And you know, it's just beautiful like him being able
to just come on there and bless my track and really,
you know, come shoot the video and really just show
love and every way possible, come see me at the
SPI's and be a part of that moment for me,
make that big for me. Like he's just a real
genuine guy and I appreciate him more than he knows,
and I'm just thankful to be able to be put
in this position.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Like, honestly, it's a blessing man. Lil Wayne fe just crazy.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I feel like right now there's like a renaissance of
music when it comes to female rappers, and you're definitely
at the top of that list. Is there any advice
that Wayne is giving you along this journey in terms of.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Just keeping you motivated to keep pushing it, do your best.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, you know, he told me, like everybody gonna have
an opinion on what you do, and you know what
I'm saying, you just got to stay true to yourself.
And so I think That's where I'm at, just kind
of just staying true to myself and just believing what
I believe in and not letting anybody kind.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Of deter me away from that.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
You see what I'm saying, And that's what I've been on,
Like I gotta stay in that mobile and being creative
and everything that I do. So he just told me,
you know, everybody going trying to stir you this way
and this way, but you gotta stay true to yourself
and true to your craft.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So, Jay, I have to ask you, because the Super
Bowl is going to Louisiana next year and there was
a lot of talks about Lil Wayne not being on
the bill for it, what are your thoughts about, Oh.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I got to finish that. You know, I'm mad No
Man said.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I feel like that was one of them things where
it's like this is like the lifetime, like you know
where he get his flowers, Like, well, this like his
final lap.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
You see what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
And I feel like he definitely was supposed to be
performing on that stage just for New Orleans, for the culture,
but you know, things happen.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
How they happen.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
But yeah, he did sell out the arena down in
New Orleans for the Louisiana Fest. So we're gonna be
down there rocking it out for him. So like you
know what I'm saying, But man, that that hurt. You
know what I'm saying, especially him, But you know what
I'm saying, Just like dang, like that was his moment,
Like that was his I felt like that was his
end all, be all, Like that was his wrap it up,
Like it's my legacy.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
On display for the world. And you can't sit here
and act like Lil Wayne ain't got the hiss, Like
what are we talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
He definitely got the hits. We're talking about this music
transcend time.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
But you know what I'm saying, like I should just
you know, he put on for Atlanta. He did his
I felt like it was a It was a perfect
moment for Wayne to do it. But you know that
sometimes it just you gotta play the game. How the
game go on, the cards that you get dealt with. Man,
everybody know what it is. Man, he gonna get his
flowers and he's gonna do his big one at the Louisianafest.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
So here's just a We're.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Gonna look forward to seeing Wayne at the Louisian NFST
and everything happens as as you mentioned your song, perfect time,
and everything happens in the perfect time.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And so I'll shout out to Wayne.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
We're gonna take a quick break and when we come
back more from this conversation with the Claws. J Johnson,
(06:55):
all Right, you've won the national championship already, and I
know that coming in to this year for LSU, ESPN
and APS ranked the Tigers number seven in.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
The preseason poll.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Do you think about that as this new season is
starting to approach or are you just gonna keep.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The main thing the main thing?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, I mean, you see it, but it ain't nothing
that you think about like this preseason.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
We got a long season ago.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You know, I kind of know the game, so it's
like I don't get into that until we get to
the end and it's time for March maddness, and that's
when all of the seas and stuff really matter, Like
you know what I'm saying. So all I'm working on
is trying to just, you know, get all of my
teammates on the same page so that we could jail
you know, with the transfer portal. Every year's kind of
like a new team, Like you know what I'm saying,
(07:38):
So just the newcomers that we got and then the
older players that's already been in the system just helping
the newcomers. So it's just been fun just seeing how
everybody's coming together, learning the system, and it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I feel like you've been placed in such a great
position at LSU. I mean when you're a freshman, you
were able to start, you won the championship, and now
that you're a junior, you're gonna have a bigger burden
on you as one of the leaders of the team
alongside Aniss Tomorrow obviously, Kayleb Williams will have, you know,
a heavy responsibility.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Do you feel any pressure.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
At all to perform at a high level because this
team has lost the player like Angel Reese.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Nah, I just like now I know what it takes,
Like you know what I'm saying, I know what it
takes to be at a certain level, and I kind
of just demand that every day for my teammates.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
And it's just like learning to become a leader, you
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
And I think it's like learning how to lead in
different ways, you know what I'm saying, And learning how
to lead different players. So I think it's just about
knowing that I've been there before, knowing that I've seen everything.
I've kind of been able to just you know, sit
behind the stars of the team and kind of look
and analyze and see like, Okay, this is what has
to happen.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
This is how I got to move, this how I
got so you know, it's not like no pressure nothing.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It's just like, dang, I know I got experienced. So
now it's my turn. So you know, I'm excited about
taking that.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
On winning a national championship. Getting so close last year
to that final four, do you use that loss last
season as a motive leader this year to you know,
get to that ultimate goal of wanting to be back
in the final four, wanted to be back in the
championship game.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
When I think about that game made my blood, boy,
because it's just like we were just so close, like
but like my first year, like I did it in
that that second year is like dang, I was close
and I didn't get it, and it just kind of.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Just stung for me, Like it really stung for me.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
So like, bro, it's like every game I'm attacking, like
just but every game is just like I'm marking it
all because it's closer to.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
The Elite eight game.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So I really have been taking that for granted and
just been trying to get better because I know what
I want to accomplish, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I feel like watching you play last season, you kind
of peaked at the right time, and I feel like
there's so much more in your bag. What parts of
your game do you feel is like the most underrated?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I think my ability to create, you know what I'm saying,
Like my three point shot is great. I just I
could do a lot, Like I feel like I'm not
like a one trick pony. Like I feel like like
you got players that shoot.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
The three really well.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You got players that you know handle barb really well,
players that you know mid range with. I feel like
I do all of those things really well, and that's
what kind of set me aside. I can rebound, I
can play defense, so you know, like, I just think
I do a lot of good things well. Like will
Smith said, at the best, he was like, you know,
I'll never be as you know, whatever it is, Denzel,
or as great as you know, Samuel, But I can
(10:18):
do everything that they can do, and I can do
it just as good.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
And that's why I'm me, Like you see what I'm saying.
So I feel like I'm that type of player, that
type of person.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
LUSU in terms of how you guys have over the
last few years been able to put women's basketball really
on the map and help grow the audiences. There's been
some negatives and some positives when it comes to new
fans getting into the women's basketball space, whether it's on
the college level or in the w NBA. How have
you been able to deal with, you know, some of
that energy that's been surfacing in the women's basketball space.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Yeah, know, some of the energy is weird. I hang
gonna lie like, but for a lot of it is weird.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But I mean, you know, it just comes with it
like it could. It's toxic sometimes, but like that's how
the men's is too, Like they ruthless as well. So
it's like, you know, it just come with the views
on the game. Like you know, you got your supporters,
you got your hate. That's just what it is, you
know what I'm saying, And so I don't tweak off
of it. I've been in a spotlight for a while.
Like since I was on a rap game, I've seen
all of that. So I just try not to look
at it, you know what I'm saying, Like it's hard
(11:15):
not to, but you just try not to look at
it and focus on what you can focus on and
control what you can control.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
That's the best thing I try to do. But yeah,
it's it's weird, for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Your group of athletes is one of the first groups
to really benefit from the NIL era and person and
foremost congratulations on purchasing those twenty acres in Atlanta. Can
you just talk about just how NILS help women's basketball
grow and just your plans to continue to build your
own business portfolio when it comes to building that generational wealth.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I mean NIL has done some big things and
for me, man, the twenty acres was great. I mean
it is great, and I'm gonna continue to build on
that and you know, you know, build that community. But
so a lot of things that I haven't done that
I want to do. I feel like I'm kind of
lack and behind on my timeline. So I got a
lot of stuff that you know, I want to do.
You know, my mind is always racing, like I'm always.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Going like I can do more and more and more
and more and more. So that's what I'm kind of
focused on right now, man.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
But honestly, like, yeah, just I got a lot more
I gotta do and kind of been lagging on it
a little bit. But I've been building my team, and
my team has been helping me do things like the
twenty acres, you know, my resource center and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
That them things that I got going on in my city.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So it's a lot of things that you know, our emotion,
they take time.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
But you know, I'm just want to pleep like I
do it now. But yeah, it's coming, man. I got
a lot to do, a lot more to do, way
more to go.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
I'm excited to see what's next for you. So you're
always on the go, always on the move. With you're
accomplishing so much at a young age, how have you
been able to just sit down and just smell the
flowers and just see how far you've come.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I haven't, but I will probably in the summer.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
What I usually do after the season, I get my
friends and I pay for a trip and a mansion
and we just go to an island and you know,
we just have one them times where you're just saying
you think you reflect like wow, Like you know, I
try to celebrate my small ones, and my people around
me kind of help me celebrate them because they know
I don't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But I'm trying to get better at that.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You talked about having good people around you, and I
think that at All Star Weekend at the Kandas Parker Party,
I saw your mom by your side every step of
the way. What's one thing that your mother does to
show how important she is to you? But also just
her support? What does that mean to you? Just to
have her every step of the way, man?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
And mean everything to me?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Man, if none of this would happen if it wasn't
for my mama. Those twenty acres that you've seen that
I got, wouldn't they want to be under my name
if my mama wasn't handling it.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
So you know, she means everything to me.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
You know, I give an idea like damn, I want
to buy a couple acres of land.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
She's like, you'll get twenty and I'm just like, you.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Know, like you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
She she always take my dreams and make me know
that I could do more, you see what I'm saying.
And so when you have a mother like that, like you,
you can accomplish anything in the world. Because I think
we always live in a world where it's like damn,
people tell you they just first they tell you, Dan,
you can't do that. But it's like I got my
mama sitting there to me, you know, you can do more,
Like my mind gonna open up to another level. So, man,
(14:08):
she's just such a dope mom. Like my mom was
putting this earth just to be a mother. Like she's
such a good mother, not only to me, but you know,
to my other little brothers. I got four little brothers,
and she's team mom. She's football games, she's traveling with me,
she's doing her own brand deal, she's doing nil summits,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
And she's all making it happen.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
So any success that you do is like a direct
correlation to what her mind is. And so I just
thank her for it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
She's really the mastermind. I'm just her little puppet. Strings.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
One thing that I found out about you that I
just learned through watching the LSC social media channels that
you were an exceptional baseball picture. Have you ever thought
about seeing if you could go get some of the
LSU baseball player.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Now it's just not no, no, you know, I'm gonna
leave that to them.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I did go to a bootball game, uh, and I
was like that, this is a big field.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
They throwing that ball real fast. I don't want no parts.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
But you know, you know, I threw the first pitch
out so we got to win the natty so I
could throw out the first pitch on the baseball game again.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I think my teammate threw it last time, so next time,
get my get it right.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
But yeah, nah, you know I've been you not had
my pig tails in and I was picture.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I was.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I was clean up too. I hit clean up fourth hitter.
I was definitely clean up. They called me miss knocking
out the park. Shout out to my teammates, Keim Bassi,
Mante Rabbit, all of them boys.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
I miss my coach Maurice, coach Raja, all of them.
But yeah, man, that was great times.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
LT's use coachure of winning.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Obviously you all added Simone Augustus Hall of Famer legendary
player from the LSU program. What has it been like
to just have I don't know if you've already had
sessions with Simone or she's already been you know, active
with the team. But what is it like to just
have that, you know, hall of Famer with the LSU
team This season now, it's.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Been an I can't a lot to you, like just
her presence and everything that she she stands for.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
It's just it's just beautiful to be around. She consistent
every day.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
She tried to just help me on my mindset, you
know what I'm saying, when I get down or anything,
just trying to keep me level.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I got to work out with her and it was amazing, bro,
Like she's really really really she's She's who she is,
you know what I'm saying, She's a Hall of Famer. Now.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
That was dope to see and man, just show you like,
you know, it's within your reach because she was at
the same school that I was at and doing the
things I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
So it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Is it surreal to see her statue and then just.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
And then absolutely she imagine man, if she don't be
looking real sometimes you know people got that like that
star face where she like glow all the time.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah, she got that or shout out to moneybone. All right,
So what's next for you, Flache? I mean, you're excelling
in both sport and music. What can we expect next
from you?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Man? Just more music first of all, all telling people
like dang like you know, they like we know which
one you think you better at or woohoo. I'm like, bro,
like I spend most of my days doing basketball. I
spend seven eight hours in the gym every day, like
you know what I'm saying. So, but imagine if I
had that much time in the studio, you see what
(17:14):
I'm saying. Imagine if I was able to So you know,
I've done what I've done with the music in my
spare time, so you know, imagine what I could do.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Like, So, just focusing more on music.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
In my business aspect, I want to be a business
woman and I gotta I gotta, I gotta rup that up.
I've been you know, I've been putting that to the side,
and some things that I want to do that I
gotta get done.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
So just more of my business for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
One of the segments I like on your podcast, Best
of Both Worlds is the Big four Moments, So I'm
gonna do a play on that. So We talked about
how female hip hop rap is like at its inflection
point right now, and you're part of that growth. We
look at the music scene and how women are just
controlling the whole industry right now. The top four female
(17:55):
hip hop artists, Man, I don't even know.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Put myself from there because I listened to myself a lot.
Definitely put myself from there. I know. I like Girlrillas
you can add her on the list.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
All right, So we got yourself Glorilla.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ooh, I love don't you? And I like star bands?
She a young rapper coming up? I love starbands.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
She cold.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I like that I like right now? All right, clause.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Thank you so much for being here on in case
you missed it with Christina Williams. It was such a
pleasure to chat with you. Looking forward to seeing what
Ellis you does uh this season and the women's college
basketball scene, but also your music.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yes, ma'am, thank you. You got me turned up. I'm
in my mole right now.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
You got me.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You got me in a fire right now. So thank
you for having me on the show. You know, anytime
you want to chat up again, you know I'm here.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Appreciate you and the feelings mutual. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That's gonna do it for this special edition of In
Case You Missed It with Christina Williams. Again, shout out
to the big Foe Clausee Johnson for coming through today.
Please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.
And coming up next week, we'll probably have a WNBA champion,
so we're gonna do a WNBA Finals reaction.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
I'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to another episode of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams here on the iHeartRadio app
and y'all, I'm super excited. This is a legendary episode.
(00:23):
I'm so excited to introduce this week's guest. She's a
national champion at LSU. She's a rap superstar, the biggest
foe of the ball. Please welcome in Plauj Johnson to
the show. Thank you for having me so, I know
that you've been super busy. Brush off of your performance
from the BET Hip Hop Awards, What was it like
for you to be on that big stage and performance.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No, it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You know, as an artist, that's something that you want
to do, Like that's one of those things where it's like, Okay,
if I get on this stage, then i know I'm
on the right direction. And so it was one of
those moments. Also one of those full circle moments because
I've been the BT about three times and I'm almost like,
dang bro when I get my chance to be on
that stage. And even though it was just the you know,
(01:07):
the Nissan Ultimate Amplified Stage. It was still a big
step for me because it's just another stage for people
to know that I take.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
This music thing serious.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
And I think that's been a battle with you know,
me being a basketball playing an artists and just I
don't know, hard for people to wrap their head around that.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I'm just talented at both things.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
So whenever I get to get on the stage and
perform and kind of put my best foot forward, I
always try to.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But it was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
You talked about how people perceive you doing both, you know,
music and playing basketball. What's the most difficult part about
maintaining that balance for.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You man, just about the consistency in music. You know,
I'm consistent every day in basketball, but just the consistency
in music and just you know, kind of guilt trip
for myself. I get so headstrong and just to keeping
the main thing the main thing, and I got to
just give myself grade sometimes because I'm doing something nobody
has ever done. So it's just like, dang, I don't
want to mess up, but it's like I can't mess
up because I'm creating my own blueprint. So I think
(02:00):
just kind of just working hard in both of them
and just staying true to what I do, not thinking
too much about it.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Listen, congrats on all your recent success. I mean I
personally saw you perform at the boardroom party at w
NBA All Star. I felt like you should have been
on that halftime stage at the All Star.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
But that also paypall. But best of.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Both worlds is your EP that you released this past summer.
Came out of Beasts, the music video and song with
Lil Wayne. I want to know personally, how did you
get coached Smokey convince her to be in that music video?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Man? I told her in the video she know, Nah,
she know Coach Muky is supportive as long as I'm
handling my bsness on the court, and she's gonna ride
behind me one hundred and ten percent, and she do
any of her players. So it was a small ass.
I told her, I have you that ten minutes, you
in and out. She did her thing and we got
it done. But you know case real superstar, so well,
(02:53):
you know, I ain't know she was gonna put on
the outfit and everything, but she really turned it up
for me.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
So I appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I know everybody in the basketball loves Coach Mokey's outfits,
and I've got to know a lot of players who've
played for her over the last several years. What is
it about Coach Mooky that bakes players want to run
through a wall for her?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I think her passion.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I think once you see somebody so passionate about something,
it kind of just bring everybody on board.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
She passionate and she consistent.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Every day she wake up and kind of choose greatness,
and she does it at a high level. So that's
something that you could you just inspired by every day.
You inspired by that greatness, You inspired by that. So
I think it's easy to follow somebody who really leave
by example every day.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Going back to the music came out of Beast, you
got one of the biggest features in Lil Wayne, one
of the greatest rappers alive. What was that moment like
for you to just get that co sign from him?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, man, it's still crazy. Still kind of ain't processing
or wrap my head all the way around it. Just
you know, those one of them things I'm gonna look
back when I'm older and be like, Wow, you really
did that at that age.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
But man, it was amazing, bro. He just show love.
He's still showing love like it never stopped. Like he's
a great guy. I'm a fan. He a fan of me,
which is dope.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
And you know, it's just beautiful like him being able
to just come on there and bless my track and really,
you know, come shoot the video and really just show
love and every way possible, come see me at the
SPI's and be a part of that moment for me,
make that big for me. Like he's just a real
genuine guy and I appreciate him more than he knows,
and I'm just thankful to be able to be put
in this position.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Like, honestly, it's a blessing man. Lil Wayne fe just crazy.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I feel like right now there's like a renaissance of
music when it comes to female rappers, and you're definitely
at the top of that list. Is there any advice
that Wayne is giving you along this journey in terms of.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Just keeping you motivated to keep pushing it, do your best.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, you know, he told me, like everybody gonna have
an opinion on what you do, and you know what
I'm saying, you just got to stay true to yourself.
And so I think That's where I'm at, just kind
of just staying true to myself and just believing what
I believe in and not letting anybody kind.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Of deter me away from that.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
You see what I'm saying, And that's what I've been on,
Like I gotta stay in that mobile and being creative
and everything that I do. So he just told me,
you know, everybody going trying to stir you this way
and this way, but you gotta stay true to yourself
and true to your craft.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So, Jay, I have to ask you, because the Super
Bowl is going to Louisiana next year and there was
a lot of talks about Lil Wayne not being on
the bill for it, what are your thoughts about, Oh.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I got to finish that. You know, I'm mad No
Man said.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I feel like that was one of them things where
it's like this is like the lifetime, like you know
where he get his flowers, Like, well, this like his
final lap.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
You see what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
And I feel like he definitely was supposed to be
performing on that stage just for New Orleans, for the culture,
but you know, things happen.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
How they happen.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
But yeah, he did sell out the arena down in
New Orleans for the Louisiana Fest. So we're gonna be
down there rocking it out for him. So like you
know what I'm saying, But man, that that hurt. You
know what I'm saying, especially him, But you know what
I'm saying, Just like dang, like that was his moment,
Like that was his I felt like that was his
end all, be all, Like that was his wrap it up,
Like it's my legacy.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
On display for the world. And you can't sit here
and act like Lil Wayne ain't got the hiss, Like
what are we talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
He definitely got the hits. We're talking about this music
transcend time.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
But you know what I'm saying, like I should just
you know, he put on for Atlanta. He did his
I felt like it was a It was a perfect
moment for Wayne to do it. But you know that
sometimes it just you gotta play the game. How the
game go on, the cards that you get dealt with. Man,
everybody know what it is. Man, he gonna get his
flowers and he's gonna do his big one at the Louisianafest.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
So here's just a We're.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Gonna look forward to seeing Wayne at the Louisian NFST
and everything happens as as you mentioned your song, perfect time,
and everything happens in the perfect time.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And so I'll shout out to Wayne.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
We're gonna take a quick break and when we come
back more from this conversation with the Claws. J Johnson,
(06:55):
all Right, you've won the national championship already, and I
know that coming in to this year for LSU, ESPN
and APS ranked the Tigers number seven in.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
The preseason poll.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Do you think about that as this new season is
starting to approach or are you just gonna keep.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The main thing the main thing?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, I mean, you see it, but it ain't nothing
that you think about like this preseason.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
We got a long season ago.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You know, I kind of know the game, so it's
like I don't get into that until we get to
the end and it's time for March maddness, and that's
when all of the seas and stuff really matter, Like
you know what I'm saying. So all I'm working on
is trying to just, you know, get all of my
teammates on the same page so that we could jail
you know, with the transfer portal. Every year's kind of
like a new team, Like you know what I'm saying,
(07:38):
So just the newcomers that we got and then the
older players that's already been in the system just helping
the newcomers. So it's just been fun just seeing how
everybody's coming together, learning the system, and it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I feel like you've been placed in such a great
position at LSU. I mean when you're a freshman, you
were able to start, you won the championship, and now
that you're a junior, you're gonna have a bigger burden
on you as one of the leaders of the team
alongside Aniss Tomorrow obviously, Kayleb Williams will have, you know,
a heavy responsibility.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Do you feel any pressure.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
At all to perform at a high level because this
team has lost the player like Angel Reese.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Nah, I just like now I know what it takes,
Like you know what I'm saying, I know what it
takes to be at a certain level, and I kind
of just demand that every day for my teammates.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
And it's just like learning to become a leader, you
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
And I think it's like learning how to lead in
different ways, you know what I'm saying, And learning how
to lead different players. So I think it's just about
knowing that I've been there before, knowing that I've seen everything.
I've kind of been able to just you know, sit
behind the stars of the team and kind of look
and analyze and see like, Okay, this is what has
to happen.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
This is how I got to move, this how I
got so you know, it's not like no pressure nothing.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It's just like, dang, I know I got experienced. So
now it's my turn. So you know, I'm excited about
taking that.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
On winning a national championship. Getting so close last year
to that final four, do you use that loss last
season as a motive leader this year to you know,
get to that ultimate goal of wanting to be back
in the final four, wanted to be back in the
championship game.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
When I think about that game made my blood, boy,
because it's just like we were just so close, like
but like my first year, like I did it in
that that second year is like dang, I was close
and I didn't get it, and it just kind of.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Just stung for me, Like it really stung for me.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
So like, bro, it's like every game I'm attacking, like
just but every game is just like I'm marking it
all because it's closer to.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
The Elite eight game.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So I really have been taking that for granted and
just been trying to get better because I know what
I want to accomplish, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I feel like watching you play last season, you kind
of peaked at the right time, and I feel like
there's so much more in your bag. What parts of
your game do you feel is like the most underrated?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I think my ability to create, you know what I'm saying,
Like my three point shot is great. I just I
could do a lot, Like I feel like I'm not
like a one trick pony. Like I feel like like
you got players that shoot.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
The three really well.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You got players that you know handle barb really well,
players that you know mid range with. I feel like
I do all of those things really well, and that's
what kind of set me aside. I can rebound, I
can play defense, so you know, like, I just think
I do a lot of good things well. Like will
Smith said, at the best, he was like, you know,
I'll never be as you know, whatever it is, Denzel,
or as great as you know, Samuel, But I can
(10:18):
do everything that they can do, and I can do
it just as good.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
And that's why I'm me, Like you see what I'm saying.
So I feel like I'm that type of player, that
type of person.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
LUSU in terms of how you guys have over the
last few years been able to put women's basketball really
on the map and help grow the audiences. There's been
some negatives and some positives when it comes to new
fans getting into the women's basketball space, whether it's on
the college level or in the w NBA. How have
you been able to deal with, you know, some of
that energy that's been surfacing in the women's basketball space.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Yeah, know, some of the energy is weird. I hang
gonna lie like, but for a lot of it is weird.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But I mean, you know, it just comes with it
like it could. It's toxic sometimes, but like that's how
the men's is too, Like they ruthless as well. So
it's like, you know, it just come with the views
on the game. Like you know, you got your supporters,
you got your hate. That's just what it is, you
know what I'm saying, And so I don't tweak off
of it. I've been in a spotlight for a while.
Like since I was on a rap game, I've seen
all of that. So I just try not to look
at it, you know what I'm saying, Like it's hard
(11:15):
not to, but you just try not to look at
it and focus on what you can focus on and
control what you can control.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
That's the best thing I try to do. But yeah,
it's it's weird, for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Your group of athletes is one of the first groups
to really benefit from the NIL era and person and
foremost congratulations on purchasing those twenty acres in Atlanta. Can
you just talk about just how NILS help women's basketball
grow and just your plans to continue to build your
own business portfolio when it comes to building that generational wealth.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I mean NIL has done some big things and
for me, man, the twenty acres was great. I mean
it is great, and I'm gonna continue to build on
that and you know, you know, build that community. But
so a lot of things that I haven't done that
I want to do. I feel like I'm kind of
lack and behind on my timeline. So I got a
lot of stuff that you know, I want to do.
You know, my mind is always racing, like I'm always.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Going like I can do more and more and more
and more and more. So that's what I'm kind of
focused on right now, man.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
But honestly, like, yeah, just I got a lot more
I gotta do and kind of been lagging on it
a little bit. But I've been building my team, and
my team has been helping me do things like the
twenty acres, you know, my resource center and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
That them things that I got going on in my city.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So it's a lot of things that you know, our emotion,
they take time.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
But you know, I'm just want to pleep like I
do it now. But yeah, it's coming, man. I got
a lot to do, a lot more to do, way
more to go.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
I'm excited to see what's next for you. So you're
always on the go, always on the move. With you're
accomplishing so much at a young age, how have you
been able to just sit down and just smell the
flowers and just see how far you've come.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I haven't, but I will probably in the summer.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
What I usually do after the season, I get my
friends and I pay for a trip and a mansion
and we just go to an island and you know,
we just have one them times where you're just saying
you think you reflect like wow, Like you know, I
try to celebrate my small ones, and my people around
me kind of help me celebrate them because they know
I don't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But I'm trying to get better at that.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You talked about having good people around you, and I
think that at All Star Weekend at the Kandas Parker Party,
I saw your mom by your side every step of
the way. What's one thing that your mother does to
show how important she is to you? But also just
her support? What does that mean to you? Just to
have her every step of the way, man?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
And mean everything to me?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Man, if none of this would happen if it wasn't
for my mama. Those twenty acres that you've seen that
I got, wouldn't they want to be under my name
if my mama wasn't handling it.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
So you know, she means everything to me.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
You know, I give an idea like damn, I want
to buy a couple acres of land.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
She's like, you'll get twenty and I'm just like, you.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Know, like you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
She she always take my dreams and make me know
that I could do more, you see what I'm saying.
And so when you have a mother like that, like you,
you can accomplish anything in the world. Because I think
we always live in a world where it's like damn,
people tell you they just first they tell you, Dan,
you can't do that. But it's like I got my
mama sitting there to me, you know, you can do more,
Like my mind gonna open up to another level. So, man,
(14:08):
she's just such a dope mom. Like my mom was
putting this earth just to be a mother. Like she's
such a good mother, not only to me, but you know,
to my other little brothers. I got four little brothers,
and she's team mom. She's football games, she's traveling with me,
she's doing her own brand deal, she's doing nil summits,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
And she's all making it happen.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
So any success that you do is like a direct
correlation to what her mind is. And so I just
thank her for it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
She's really the mastermind. I'm just her little puppet. Strings.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
One thing that I found out about you that I
just learned through watching the LSC social media channels that
you were an exceptional baseball picture. Have you ever thought
about seeing if you could go get some of the
LSU baseball player.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Now it's just not no, no, you know, I'm gonna
leave that to them.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I did go to a bootball game, uh, and I
was like that, this is a big field.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
They throwing that ball real fast. I don't want no parts.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
But you know, you know, I threw the first pitch
out so we got to win the natty so I
could throw out the first pitch on the baseball game again.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I think my teammate threw it last time, so next time,
get my get it right.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
But yeah, nah, you know I've been you not had
my pig tails in and I was picture.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I was.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I was clean up too. I hit clean up fourth hitter.
I was definitely clean up. They called me miss knocking
out the park. Shout out to my teammates, Keim Bassi,
Mante Rabbit, all of them boys.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
I miss my coach Maurice, coach Raja, all of them.
But yeah, man, that was great times.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
LT's use coachure of winning.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Obviously you all added Simone Augustus Hall of Famer legendary
player from the LSU program. What has it been like
to just have I don't know if you've already had
sessions with Simone or she's already been you know, active
with the team. But what is it like to just
have that, you know, hall of Famer with the LSU
team This season now, it's.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Been an I can't a lot to you, like just
her presence and everything that she she stands for.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
It's just it's just beautiful to be around. She consistent
every day.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
She tried to just help me on my mindset, you
know what I'm saying, when I get down or anything,
just trying to keep me level.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I got to work out with her and it was amazing, bro,
Like she's really really really she's She's who she is,
you know what I'm saying, She's a Hall of Famer. Now.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
That was dope to see and man, just show you like,
you know, it's within your reach because she was at
the same school that I was at and doing the
things I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
So it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Is it surreal to see her statue and then just.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
And then absolutely she imagine man, if she don't be
looking real sometimes you know people got that like that
star face where she like glow all the time.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah, she got that or shout out to moneybone. All right,
So what's next for you, Flache? I mean, you're excelling
in both sport and music. What can we expect next
from you?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Man? Just more music first of all, all telling people
like dang like you know, they like we know which
one you think you better at or woohoo. I'm like, bro,
like I spend most of my days doing basketball. I
spend seven eight hours in the gym every day, like
you know what I'm saying. So, but imagine if I
had that much time in the studio, you see what
(17:14):
I'm saying. Imagine if I was able to So you know,
I've done what I've done with the music in my
spare time, so you know, imagine what I could do.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Like, So, just focusing more on music.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
In my business aspect, I want to be a business
woman and I gotta I gotta, I gotta rup that up.
I've been you know, I've been putting that to the side,
and some things that I want to do that I
gotta get done.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
So just more of my business for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
One of the segments I like on your podcast, Best
of Both Worlds is the Big four Moments, So I'm
gonna do a play on that. So We talked about
how female hip hop rap is like at its inflection
point right now, and you're part of that growth. We
look at the music scene and how women are just
controlling the whole industry right now. The top four female
(17:55):
hip hop artists, Man, I don't even know.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Put myself from there because I listened to myself a lot.
Definitely put myself from there. I know. I like Girlrillas
you can add her on the list.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
All right, So we got yourself Glorilla.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ooh, I love don't you? And I like star bands?
She a young rapper coming up? I love starbands.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
She cold.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I like that I like right now? All right, clause.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Thank you so much for being here on in case
you missed it with Christina Williams. It was such a
pleasure to chat with you. Looking forward to seeing what
Ellis you does uh this season and the women's college
basketball scene, but also your music.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yes, ma'am, thank you. You got me turned up. I'm
in my mole right now.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
You got me.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You got me in a fire right now. So thank
you for having me on the show. You know, anytime
you want to chat up again, you know I'm here.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Appreciate you and the feelings mutual. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That's gonna do it for this special edition of In
Case You Missed It with Christina Williams. Again, shout out
to the big Foe Clausee Johnson for coming through today.
Please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.
And coming up next week, we'll probably have a WNBA champion,
so we're gonna do a WNBA Finals reaction.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
I'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com