Rapper Toosii has officially concluded his tenure with the LSU Tigers football team. The decision comes after head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed that the artist, born Nau’Jour Grainger, was forced to step away from the program due to a conflict involving a recent endorsement deal with a gambling company.
During an appearance on the In the Bayou with Tyrann Mathieu podcast on Wednesday (June 17), Kiffin addressed the departure, explaining that the 27-year-old rapper faced significant limitations while attempting to balance his professional music career with the demands of collegiate athletics. According to Kiffin, the partnership with a gambling entity created a direct violation of NCAA compliance rules.
“I think he signed with like one of the, I don’t know what they’re called, the gambling company thing where you do the commercials for him and stuff, and that shouldn’t work in the NCAA, you know,” Kiffin noted during the interview.
While NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) regulations allow student-athletes to monetize their personal brands, these rules strictly prohibit the promotion of gambling, alcohol, and tobacco products. Consequently, Toosii’s business venture rendered him ineligible to continue competing at the collegiate level.
Despite the abrupt end to his time on the field, Kiffin spoke highly of the rapper’s commitment to the sport. Toosii had joined the LSU squad in March as a wide receiver, and the coaching staff reportedly viewed his participation as a genuine effort rather than a publicity stunt. “I really enjoyed being around him. It wasn’t a stunt at all,” Kiffin added. “He really wanted to see if he could do it.”
XXL has reached out to representatives for Toosii for further comment regarding the situation.
