It’s often said that musicians want to be athletes, and athletes want to be musicians, but one rapper is trying his hand at a football career. The platinum-selling artist will suit up on the field for one of the country’s most prestigious and storied athletic programs, and he’ll be playing against some of the best competition in college football – all at the age of 25.
On Monday, rapper Toosii announced that he would be committing to play football for the Syracuse Orange, beginning his college football career when most players are ending their own.
“For every kid who ever had a dream, make it reality,” Toosii, whose real name is Nau’jour Grainger, said in a post on social media.
Grainger Explains Why He Chose Syracuse
“God’s will is the way and no one can stop it not even the devil. I wanna thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for even giving me the strength to chase what I believed when so many people told me I couldn’t.”
Grainger noted that he was born in Syracuse and moved with his family to North Carolina at the age of 12. “When Coach Fran [Brown] called, I knew it was a sign from God,” Grainger said.
“So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home.”
Grainger announced over the summer that he would pursue football seriously, even taking a break from his music career to train. He has high school experience playing for Rolesville High in North Carolina, where he was a wide receiver and kick returner.
Grainger stands at 5’8″ and weighs 165 pounds, and it’s unclear which position he’ll play next season for Syracuse.
Grainger’s Career Off The Field
As Toosii, Grainger is likely best known for “Favorite Song,” released in 2023. The song was featured prominently in TikTok videos on social media, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him double platinum status in sales.
His second album, “Nau’jour,” was released in 2023. It peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard charts and is currently certified as gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Orange finished a 3-9 2025 campaign on Saturday with a 34-12 loss to Boston College. Last season, Brown led the team to a 10-3 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl – all in his first season as head coach.
