University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Cornerback DJ Puts Rap Career On Hold
March 28, 2002 | Football
March 28, 2002
John Bunting's "consumed by football" mantra may have claimed its most recent inductee.
Rising junior cornerback Derrick Johnson is competing for playing time this spring, currently listed behind Michael Waddell at one cornerback slot. Johnson should have plenty to contribute, since he played well even as a freshman, sealing the 2000 win over Maryland with an interception. He played in all 13 games last year for the Tar Heels, usually being inserted when Carolina needed a heavier presence against the pass. The Maryland native forced a fumble and also made 10 tackles.
But the 5-foot-9 Johnson, who is known as "Boom-Boom" to his teammates for reasons they won't reveal, is also working on a side career.
A group of friends from home, including the brother of former Maryland star and recent Houston Texan acquisition Jermaine Lewis, has been working on a rap album.
Johnson has always had a love for rap, but only recently joined up with the Lewis-led group.
"I've been doing it with them for probably about a year," Johnson said. "But I've been rapping for a while now."
The album was mentioned in his biography in last year's media guide, making some observers wonder if it was somehow overlooked in the Grammy nominations for 2002. But it turns out that unforeseen circumstances have wreaked havoc on the production schedule.
While Johnson continues to climb up the depth chart and lay out receivers, his free time for laying down tracks has been decreased.
"The release has been delayed," he admitted this week. "It's going to be on an independent label. But football has been consuming me and I haven't been able to go home a lot to work on it."
Johnson has already completed three tracks for the disc. When it is released, he'll probably find that his toughest critics are in the Tar Heel defensive backfield.
The secondary has several players who aren't afraid to provide uncensored opinions on most anything, and Johnson's burgeoning rap career is just another potential topic.
Senior Michael Waddell has already received an early listen to the album.
"I heard a couple of songs," Waddell said with a smile. "It's been a while back that I got to hear them."
So, Michael, what's the scoop? Should space be cleared next to the Peach Bowl trophy for a Grammy?
"I'm going to say he's all right," said Waddell, which qualifies as a huge compliment from a player who described his 2001 season as "OK" despite shutting down most opposing wide receivers. "Him being my friend, I'm not going to say he's garbage or anything."
Of course, Johnson doesn't have to be too good to surpass the most recent cornerback-turned-rapper, former Florida State star Deion Sanders, who didn't quite reach platinum status with his "Must Be The Money" track several years ago.
Johnson shouldn't have much trouble eclipsing Sanders, whose debut was called "abysmal" by the St. Petersburg Times and was so ill received that it's unavailable at common music outlets like amazon.com.
But Sanders does have one advantage over the Tar Heel cornerback-Neon Deion never had to be "consumed by football."
