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Most people know Flau’jae Johnson as LSU’s star guard. Some also know that behind the basketball, she’s also actively involved in music as a rapper with a Roc Nation distribution deal. But even fewer people actually know that music, for Flau’jae, was never just a hobby; she was born into it.

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Her father, Jason Johnson, was, in fact, quite a popular rapper. And even though she never got to meet him, the desire to carry on his legacy and dream is one of the things that fuels everything she does with a microphone in her hand today.

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Who is Flau’jae Johnson’s Father, Jason Johnson?

Flau’jae’s father, Jason Johnson, is better known by his stage name Camoflauge. He was a rapper from Savannah, Georgia, who built a loyal following in the Southern rap scene during the early 2000s. Some of his most popular songs include “Cut Friends,” “Raised In Da Ghetto,” and “Laying My Stunt Down,” which he did with Birdman.

Jason “Camoflauge” Johnson and Flau’jae’s mother, Kia Brooks, were together during the height of his music career in the early 2000s. They had their first child, Ladon, in 2002. And the following year, Kia got pregnant with their second, the child who would become Flau’jae Johnson. But Camoflage would never get to meet her.

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In an exclusive interview with WSAV, Johnson opened up about her father’s death. On a May evening in 2003, six months before Flau’jae’s birth, Jason Johnson was tragically shot and killed at just 21 years old outside Pure Pain Records in Savannah. Even more heartbreaking, he was strolling outside the recording studio with his toddler son when the incident occurred. To this day, that murder case has never been solved and remains open.

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Who Is Flau’jae Johnson’s Mother, Kia Brooks?

Flau’jae Johnson’s mother, Kia Brooks, was more than just the partner of the late Jason “Camoflauge” Johnson. She was also his business partner and advisor during the height of his music career in the early 2000s. When he died, she took on the responsibility of preserving his legacy and became the primary custodian of his music estate.

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She has also since rebuilt and expanded her life on her own terms. She went on to marry Ameen Brooks, a businessman and supportive figure who stepped into the role of stepfather for Flau’jae. Together, they have provided Flau’jae with the stability and foundation to pursue both basketball and music simultaneously at the highest level.

Today, Kia serves as her daughter’s manager both in sports and music. It was Kia who helped Flau’jae secure her distribution deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company. She has also been instrumental in building a NIL portfolio that has grown to 17 deals since 2022, which pushed Flau’jae’s NIL valuation to approximately $1.5 million. 

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To further formalize her role, Kia founded TFNA Entertainment and Sports Management, a company built specifically to support and protect her daughter’s creative and commercial growth. On her Instagram, she proudly calls herself “The NIL Momager,” and the results speak for themselves.

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What Is Flau’jae Johnson’s Parents’ Ethnicity and Nationality?

Flau’jae Johnson and both of her parents are American by nationality. All three were born in Savannah, Georgia, which makes them natives of the Southeastern United States. Specifically, Flau’jae Johnson’s parents, both Kia Brooks and Jason Johnson, grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Flau’jae also spent her formative years there before she moved to the Atlanta area for high school.

In terms of ethnicity, Flau’jae and her parents identify as Black or African American. And that heritage has been a central thread in Flau’jae’s own identity, both as a basketball player and as an artist.

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Inside Flau’jae Johnson’s Relationship With Her Parents

Kia is Johnson’s best friend, manager, and her fiercest protector. She oversees everything from her multimillion-dollar NIL portfolio to the day-to-day decisions that influence both her dual career. In fact, she has become something of a fan favorite herself, as she regularly appears in viral clips celebrating Flau’jae’s biggest moments on the court.

With her father, there’s obviously been no physical relationship, as she never got to meet him. However, she feels his presence every day. She describes him as her biggest inspiration, wears a diamond chain bearing his image, and has a mural of him in her home studio.

Flau’jae’s stepfather, Ameen Brooks, also plays an important role in her life, albeit a quieter one. He handles the logistics for Flau’jae’s music performances and travel, and is also a regular presence at her games. Flau’jae has credited him as a key part of the support system that helped raise her and her siblings.

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Rooted in Rapping Career

Flau’jae Johnson has always been clear about where her passion for rap comes from. For her, the microphone has never just been a hobby or a side hustle. It is more of a mission and a responsibility. As she puts it, “I started because my father was a rapper. I feel like his legacy was cut short. That’s why I sometimes feel like it’s my duty to finish what he started.”

She began that journey as early as just eight years old. Her mother, Kia Brooks, was, however, not immediately on board. She had watched the rap industry take Jason Johnson from her, and the idea of her daughter walking the same path was understandably difficult to embrace. But then, Flau’jae’s talent became impossible to ignore, and her hesitation gave way to recognition. 

Today, she has built a catalog of song releases featuring a number of top artists in the music industry. Especially in 2024, she earned a coveted co-sign from Lil Wayne. She collaborated with the legendary rapper on the song “Came Out a Beast.” She also got to perform alongside him at Lil Weezyana Fest. The crowning achievement so far is her distribution deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, a deal that placed her in the same universe as some of the biggest names in the music industry.

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Written by

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Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel

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Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel is a WNBA journalist at EssentiallySports, bringing a fan-first perspective to coverage of the Women's National Basketball Association. With prior experience reporting on high school sports, college basketball, and the National Basketball Association, he has developed a reputation for timely reporting and audience-focused storytelling. His coverage spans match updates, breaking developments, player analysis, and roster moves, while also tracking the evolving dynamics shaping teams and athletes across the league.

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Pranav Venkatesh

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