Falz | |
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Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz was (born October 27, 1990 in mushin area of Lagos State, South-Western Nigeria to a renowned lawyers Femi and Funmi Falana
Falz is a Nigerian rapper, actor, and songwriter. He began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called “The School Boys” with his friend before his professional career as a music artist began in 2009.
Falz came into prominence after his song titled “Marry Me” (featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade) won him a nomination in the “Best Collaboration of The Year” category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He was also nominated in the “Best Rap Act of The Year” and “Best New Act to Watch” categories at the same event. He currently owns an independent record label called Bahd Guys Records.
Personal life
Falz is the son of Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer.
Falz was called to the bar in 2012 after graduating from the Nigeria Law School, Abuja.
Educational Background
Falz had his primary and secondary school education at St. Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ikeja and Olashore International School, Osun State respectively. He graduated from the University of Reading with an LLB honors degree in Law.
Career
2009–2013: Early beginnings and Shakara: The Mixtap
Falz started music as a hobby while in secondary school. He formed a music group with a friend called “The School Boys”.
In 2009, while in high school, he released a compilation of some of his recordings as a mix tape titled Shakara: The Mixtape.
In 2011, Falz released a single titled “Waz Up Guy” before he went on to release “High Class” and “Currency” which brought him into limelight in the Nigerian music industry.
2014–present: Wazzup Guy, Stories That Touch and Chemistry EP
On January 2, 2014, Falz was listed in tooXclusive‘s “Artistes To Watch in 2014”. On 30 May 2014, Falz released his debut studio album titled Wazup Guy which was received to critical acclaim among music critics.
In 2015, Falz was nominated in the “Best Collaboration of The Year” category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for his chart-topping single titled “Marry Me”.
He released a single titled “Ello Bae” on 31 January 2015, which won him a nomination in the “Best Street Hop Artiste of The Year” category at The Headies 2015.
On 17 November 2015, he released his second studio album titled Stories That Touch.
In 2016, Falz won “Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/Series” at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for his role as Segun in Funke Akindele’s TV series Jenifa’s Diary.
In June of 2016, Falz was voted the winner of the “Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act” category at the 2016 BET Awards.
October 27, 2016, Falz collaborated with Simi to release Chemistry, a 7-track EP solely produced by Sess. The EP was released after he had previously worked with Simi on two singles titled “Jamb Question” and “Soldier”.In May 2018, Falz released the music video titled ‘This Is Nigeria‘ which was inspired by Childish Gambino‘s ‘This is America’.
It highlighted the issues of Nigerians including corruption and bribery.
Artistry
Falz describes his style of music as “Wahzup music“. It is the fusion of comic lyrics with the contemporary hip-hop in a faux Yoruba accent. On 18 November 2014, Falz was ranked one of the best gifted Rappers in Nigeria in 2014 stating that, “Falz’s ability to maintain a thought and get his point across in 16 barz while switching accents, infusing funny punch lines and delivering all of it in a way that makes the listener follow along is nothing but impressive performance”.
Selected singles
Year | Title | Album |
2011 | “Waz Up Guy” | Wazup Guy |
2012 | “Cool Parry” | |
“123” (featuring Oyinkansola) | ||
“Welcome To The Jungle” | Non-album single | |
2013 | “High Class” | Wazup Guy |
“Currency” | ||
2014 | “Jessica” | |
“Toyin Tomato” | ||
“Marry Me” (featuring Poe & Yemi Alade) | ||
“Pound Cake (Freestyle)” (featuring Chyn) | Non-album single | |
2015 | “Walk In The Sky” (featuring Chyn) | Starsky and Hutch Project |
“Ello Bae” | Stories That Touch | |
“Love & Liquor” (featuring Chyn) | Starsky and Hutch Project | |
“Karashika” (featuring Phyno & Chigurl) | “Stories That Touch” | |
“Karashika (Part II)” (featuring M.I & ShowDemKamp) | ||
“Celebrity Girlfriend” (featuring Reekado Banks) | Stories That Touch | |
“Soldier” (featuring Simi) | ||
“Clap” (featuring Reminisce) | ||
2016 | “Bahd Baddo Baddest” (featuringOlamide & Davido) | 27 |
2017 | “Wehdonsir” | |
“Baby Boy” | ||
“Jeje” | ||
“Something Light” (featuring Ycee) | ||
“La Fete” | ||
2018 | “This is Nigeria“ | TBA |
“Next” |
Filmography
Film | |||
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
2015 | Jenifa’s Diary | as Segun | Soap opera |
2016 | Tinsel | as kayode Beko-Williams | Soap opera |
2016 | 10 Days in Sun City | as Seyi | Movie |
Falz Awards and nominations
Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | |
2016 | 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/Series | Jenifa’s Diary | Won | |
2016 BET Awards | Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act | Himself | Won | ||
2016 City People Entertainment Awards | Album of the Year | Stories That Touch | Won | ||
9th Nigeria Music Video Awards | Best Afro Hip Hop Video | “Karashika” | Won | ||
Falz Net worth
Falz net worth is placed at over $20 million dollars and he is ranked one of the richest singer, rapper and Actor in Nigeria and Africa at large.