Flaujae Johnson has a crowd of about 150 bopping to the beat of her melodious voice at this years JBL Fest outside of JBLs flagship store in Soho, New York City, when a middle-aged white man interrupts her momentum. His curiosity about her performance trumps any read the room decorum, as he tries to keep the exchange going for longer than necessary. The surrounding audience awkwardly waits for the man to fall back so the artist can continue her set. Instead of getting out of her element, she speaks to him with the same humility and confidence she carried prior to his interruption. My name Flaujae, she tells him, and hell know exactly who she is if he sticks around.

Her name already rings bells for fans of womens basketball. Shes the NCAA championship-winning guard from Louisiana State University whos held her own alongside former teammate and WNBA star rookie Angel Reese. She was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023 and McDonalds All American in 2022. The rising junior is used to performing under pressure and making it look effortless. And shes ready to show the world thats not just on the court; its with a mic in her hand, too.

This starts with her debut album, Best of Both Worlds, which is set to be released Friday under the mononym Flaujae. The title is a declaration of a dual mastery. One important thing, however, separates Flaujae from the archetype of the athlete turned rapper (or vice versa): Shes been both for nearly her entire life. And the work shes put in is evident.