Rapper and songwriter Toosii is moving his career out of the studio and onto the football field. Over the past few months, the multi-platinum artist has documented his journey to becoming a professional football player. He has uploaded clips to his social media showing him doing drills and working out, showcasing his dedication. After months of extreme focus, his hard work paid off. On September 14, he announced that he will officially be taking his talents to Sacramento State.
In his announcement post, Toosii expressed his gratitude by thanking the football program’s coaches and his NFL marketing agent.
“Man the lord is powerful. Blessed to receive an offer from Sacramento State. Thank you and big shout to Head Coach @brennan_coach and Coach @cjpollard28. This don’t even feel real man @bnm.nil. I’m speechless right now I don’t even know what to say,” his Instagram caption states.
Sacramento State is a Division I university with a prolific athletic department. It is set to become even more prolific, as they just earned another star member with Shaquille O’Neal entering the 2025-26 season as general manager of the men’s basketball program.
Toosii, whose real name is Nau’Jour Grainger, was born in Syracuse, New York. He moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, at the age of 13, where he played football during his high school years. In a 2023 interview with Office Magazine, he stated that, while he always wrote music, football had been his original goal. But because he never believed football could be a possibility, he chose to prioritize making music. According to Toosii, rap provided him an escape.
Toosii’s music is in the genre of melodic rap and usually focuses on love and growing up in poverty. He became popular in the rap industry in 2019, with a multi-platinum hit that peaked at number five on Billboard’s Hot 100, titled “Favorite Song.” His other songs, “Poetic Pain” and “Love Cycle,” were also well-known upon release and helped build his following.
The concept of being both a rapper and an athlete is fairly common and is usually used as a punchline. Famous athletes like LiAngelo Ball, whose song “Tweaker” went viral on TikTok, and Damian Lillard, whose rapper alter ego is “DAME D.O.L.L.A,” made the transition. However, Toosii’s news comes as a shock, considering the road from athlete turned musician is more ever-present than the opposite.
Toosii being able to fulfill both of his dreams at only age 25 is an inspiration, mainly for anyone who grew up in a similar environment. He is living proof that you don’t have to limit yourself to one dream, and it’s never too late to start chasing them.
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