See LSU Women's Basketball Star Flau'jae Johnson Rap On 'AGT'
By Melanie VanDerveer on April 1, 2023 at 12:30 PM EDT
Louisiana State University women's basketball star Flau'jae Johnson isn't only a star on the court.
While gearing up to show off her balling skills in the Final Four of March Madness, she recently appeared on "America's Got Talent" again, wowing the judges all over again.
Flau'jae Johnson Shines Her Talent On And Off The Court
Johnson is no stranger to an audience, whether it's while playing basketball with her team at LSU or on the stage in front of thousands of people while showing off her fantastic rap talent.
The star basketball player, who's getting ready to compete with her team in the Final Four of March Madness, appeared on "AGT" when she was only 14. And now, at 18, she hit the stage in front of the judges again for "AGT: All-Stars" fifth and final round of auditions in February.
Johnson, who has a distribution deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, performed an original freestyle set to Lauryn Hill's hit song, "Ready or Not," for the "All-Stars" episode of the show.
When judge Simon Cowell talked to Johnson before her performance, he mentioned her first appearance on that stage at just 14, saying it must have been a lot of pressure for her to be so young. Johnson responded, "It was a lot of pressure, but I feel like pressure either breaks pipes or makes diamonds, and I like diamonds."
Being on the show for the first time, her goal was to tell her story. She explained that she was a rapper, and so was her father. "He died before I was born. He got murdered, and my mom was pregnant with me so that he couldn't fulfill his dreams, so that's what I'm here to do," she said. "When I listen to my father's music, I feel like that's a way we can have that connection."
At such a young age, she stood on the stage pleading with everyone to just put their guns down. Not only did she get a round of applause, but a standing ovation.
After her appearance on the show for the first time, her basketball career began. "I won a Jordan Classic MVP. I got ranked like top 25 in the nation," she explained. "I came off of 'AGT' and did everything I said I would do. But, I'm a competitor, so I'm back on 'All-Stars'' because I want to win!"
After she performed her moving rap, applause took over the entire arena. "You are a beast to be reckoned with. You're incredibly talented. You are a poet. You are a songstress. You are an entertainer. And as far as 'AGT All-Stars'' goes, you are my MVP now," judge Howie Mandel.
Simon Cowell added, "I felt very emotional during that. You know, you were 14 when you first came on this show. You came back so much better than you were before now; there's no question about it. You're already a star, and now you're an All-Star. I know you'll be a bigger star and feel very proud."
Flau'jae Johnson's Music Was Playing During Thursday's Basketball Practice
While practicing with her team on Thursday in preparation for the Women's Final Four game, the Division I freshman basketball player heard her music blaring over the PA system.
Her latest freestyle, "BIG 4," dropped about two months ago and was being played during the teams' practice.
After Friday night, LSU advances to the first championship game with comeback history being made by erasing a 12-point, second-half deficit to score the school's first Final Four victory beating Virginia Tech 79-72.
LSU will compete against Iowa in the national championship game on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.