LSU Basketball Star Flau’jae Drops “4 WAVE” EP, Aims To Continue Father’s Legacy

Flau’jae is a killer on the basketball court and now, she’s here to prove she’s a killer on the mic, too. The LSU Tigers basketball star has been surrounded by music her entire life thanks to her rapper father, Camoflauge. Revered as a Savannah, Georgia legend (best known for his song “Cut Friends”), his life was cut tragically short at just 21.

But Flau’jae is determined to carry out his legacy. At age 13, she even appeared on The Rap Game, a Lifetime reality show hosted by Jermaine Dupri. One year later, she had the opportunity to perform on national television, showcasing her talents on America’s Got Talent.

This year, Flau’jae is releasing her newest project, 4 WAVE, created with producer Babywave. The four-track EP sees Flau’jae and Babywave bringing to life the beauty and power of collaboration. 

AllHipHop spoke with Flau’jae virtually to discuss her favorite artists, carrying out her father’s legacy, her new project, collaborating with 2Rare, her love for Spitta and more.

AllHipHop: What was the moment you fell in love with Hip-Hop?

Flau’jae: I found out when I was very young, my dad was a rapper. He made music, so that led me to want to make music and continue his legacy. I’ve been in love with music since I was a baby. 

AllHipHop: Favorite artists coming up?

Flau’jae: My dad. When I was younger, I liked 2Pac. I liked Nicki Minaj when I was younger. I ain’t gon’ lie, I was a real Barb when I was younger. I listened to a lot of Nicki Minaj. 

AllHipHop: What’s your favorite Nicki Minaj song?

Flau’jae: “Bed of Lies,” probably. That whole Pinkprint album is crazy.

AllHipHop: Did the music or hooping come first?

Flau’jae: I’d say basketball started first, because I played on the basketball team before I started rapping. But they always coincided because when I was seven years old, I started making music. Music was in my blood. My dad was a rapper and he was cold. He signed a deal with Universal and had his own buzz going in Savannah. He was a Southern legend. Music’s been in my blood, but when I could walk, I was dribbling a basketball. When I was seven years old, I started really rapping.  

AllHipHop: How do you find time to do both?

Flau’jae: I’ve got really good time management skills, it’s just about staying on track. It’s hard, but if it was easy, everybody would do it.

AllHipHop: What do you feel when you rap compared to when you hoop?

Flau’jae: I get that same feeling. It’s like a little trance you go in. For basketball, it took me a lot longer to get locked in. For music, I have to get in the zone to be able to write music. It’s the same feeling though. When I’m performing and when I’m playing, it’s the exact same. When I’m in the gym, putting in my reps, it feels like when I’m in the studio. So it’s all the same, I swear.

AllHipHop: Congratulations on the release of 4 WAVE. How are you feeling?

Flau’jae: Thank you. I’m feeling good. My EP just dropped, and people are loving it so I’m super excited. It’s the first time that I’ve dropped music in a long time. I’m just trying to start the new year off strong. 

AllHipHop: What does it mean to have this out? Because I know you were working on it for a minute right?

Flau’jae: Yeah, it means a lot. I worked on it in my apartment. I did all the songs in my room, so it’s very personal for me. I built a studio setup and got to work. This has been an incredibly personal EP, I put a lot of my heart into it. Everybody asks, “Who broke your heart?” I’m like nobody. [laughs] I was able to express myself in a way that I haven’t been able to before. This EP means a lot to me and I hope that people receive it well.

AllHipHop: Talk about your chemistry with the producer Baby Wave. You say you guys are like Kobe and Shaq? 

Flau’jae: Yeah, I feel like that. We both are young and turnt. I felt it was destined for us to meet. He’s so good at what he does, I’m so good at what I do. We just complement each other. I found my guy. In the music industry, it’s hard to find a person that you have good chemistry with. But I  have that with Wave. 

AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take away from the project?

Flau’jae: This project is different, it feels like no other female rapper in the game. This EP right here sets me apart. You don’t even need to say female artist, there’s no artists that are coming with the music I’m coming with. Lyrics and the overall sound separate me from the pack.

AllHipHop: What’s your favorite song on the project?

Flau’jae: Probably “Hold On.” That’s a lot of people’s favorite song, but that’s really my favorite song. Or “Feel Your Pain,” I like both of them. But “Hold On” is magical.

AllHipHop: How was it linking with 2Rare on “Karma”? That looked so fun.

Flau’jae: That was fun. I had the song and OG Parker sent me a pack, it was upbeat and I was like, “He’s dope.” I loved his beats. I recorded it in one night and I didn’t really do it again. Somebody said “Flau, you need to put this out. This is different, you ain’t ever do nothing like this.” I’m like damn, I gotta get 2Rare on this. We linked up when I went to New York. He came to the studio, it was good vibes. He also came down to Atlanta, and shot a video with me. It was a great experience. That’s my bro, we are super tight.

AllHipHop: Three things you need in the studio at all times.

Flau’jae: My phone, a candle, and the lights off. I need the lights off at all times.

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AllHipHop: I saw you with Spitta!

Flau’jae: Oh yes Spitta, that’s my man. Shout out to Mousa (President of Jet Life), and shout out to Jet Life. Those are some really solid guys that I met when I came down here to Baton Rouge, they always show me love. Mousa’s been helping me with my merch. Mousa and Spitta built Jet Life into a successful company. I met Spitta through Mousa, I’ll always show up to what they have going on. Spitta’s a great guy. He’s a comedian. We were recently kicking it courtside at the Pelicans game. That’s a good guy, he’s someone good to have in your corner.

AllHipHop: You gotta make that record for him to hop on!

Flau’jae: I know. It’s going to happen. Whenever I go down to New Orleans again and we get in the studio, we gon’ make it happen. 

AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point?

Flau’jae: I’m truly hopeful that this EP will reach the heights I believe it’s capable of. I see it as a gateway to building a genuine fanbase, one that connects with me through my music rather than just my basketball skills. It’s about establishing a bond with listeners who appreciate the artistry in my work. The feedback I’ve received so far is encouraging. People are telling me that my music resonates with them, and that’s exactly the impact I aim to achieve.

AllHipHop: How are your basketball peers responding to it?

Flau’jae: Oh, they like it too. They’re like “Damn Flau, it’s different. You’re singing on here, you are doing all types of other stuff.” Yeah, that’s what it’s supposed to give. At first, things are different. People are like, “I don’t know if I like this.” Then it’s like “Whoa, I really like this.” I’m on track for the response that I want to get from this project. 

AllHipHop: Anything else you want us to know?

Flau’jae: I’m about to drop a two-song project, a little two-pack R&B project. Be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, you can watch my “4 Your Love” live performance from the project. 

AllHipHop: Is it love songs?

Flau’jae: Yeah, it’s R&B. I’ll be singing and everything.