Falz is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor known for blending sharp social commentary with humour, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. One of Nigeria’s most versatile entertainers, he has built a reputation as both a lyrical force and a cultural provocateur, using music and film to speak truth to power.
Early Life & Education
Born Folarin Falana on October 27, 1990, in Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria, Falz is the son of renowned human rights lawyer and activist Femi Falana and his wife Funmi Falana. He began making music in secondary school, where he formed a group called The School Boys with a friend. He later studied law, graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja and being called to the bar in 2012 — though his passion for music ultimately took precedence.
Career Beginnings
Falz launched his professional music career in 2009 with the release of Shakara: The Mixtape. He spent the early years of his career building his fanbase through singles and collaborations, steadily gaining recognition for his clever wordplay, comic timing, and Yoruba-inflected flow. On January 2, 2014, tooXclusive named him one of its “Artistes To Watch in 2014” — a sign of the buzz he had already created.
Breakthrough
His debut studio album Wazup Guy, released on May 30, 2014, marked his official mainstream arrival. The album featured 18 tracks with guest appearances from Olamide, Show Dem Camp, Phenom, and Yemi Alade, and included fan favourites like “Marry Me,” “Toyin Tomato,” “Senator,” and “Cool Parry.” The lead single “Marry Me” (featuring Poe and Yemi Alade) became one of the most talked-about songs of that year.
Mainstream Success
His second album Stories That Touch (2015) and the collaborative EP Chemistry with Simi (2016) cemented his status as one of Nigeria’s most consistent artists. In 2017, he surprised fans by dropping his third album 27 on his birthday — a project featuring Davido, Olamide, Burna Boy, Wande Coal, and more. In May 2018, he released the politically charged “This Is Nigeria,” inspired by Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” addressing corruption, bribery, and social decay — the song was controversially banned by the NBC, leading Falz to sue for N100 million. His fourth album Moral Instruction (2019) doubled down on political themes and earned him a Headies nomination for Album of the Year.
Acting Career
Alongside music, Falz has built a parallel career as an actor. He won “Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/Series” at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for his role in Jenifa’s Diary, and “Best Supporting Actor” at the 2018 AMVCAs for New Money — making him the first Nigerian musician to win the award twice. In 2020, he launched his film production company House21TV.
Discography Highlights
He released his fifth studio album BAHD in June 2022, followed by his sixth, The Feast, in May 2025 — a 12-track project described as his most personal work, featuring collaborations with Odumodublvck, D Smoke, Majeed, Qing Madi, and DOTTi The Deity.
Awards & Recognition
- Headies Award – Best Rap Album nominations (multiple)
- Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award – Best Actor in a Comedy (2016)
- Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award – Best Supporting Actor (2018)
- BET Awards – Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act (2016)
- City People Music Award – Alternative Artist of the Year
- Multiple Headies nominations for Rap Single, Rap Album, and Collabo
Recent Developments
Falz continues to release music and act across both film and TV. His 2025 album The Feast was well received critically, with tooXclusive praising it as “Falz at his most layered: funny yet fearless, witty yet weighty.” Recent singles like “Omoge,” “Arise” (with Boy Spyce), and “Story Time” have kept him firmly in the conversation.
Legacy
Falz occupies a rare space in Nigerian entertainment — equally at home spitting sharp political bars as he is delivering comedic pop hits. From “Ello Bae” to “This Is Nigeria” to The Feast, his career spans genres, moods, and moments, making him one of the most enduring and multidimensional figures in modern African music.
