Also known as Falz The Bahd Guy
Born October 27, 1990 (age 25)
Lagos State, Nigeria
Origin Lagos
Genres
Afropop
African hip hop
Hip hop
Rap
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter, Rapper, Actor, TV Presenter
Instruments Vocals, rapping
Years active 2009–present
Labels Bahd Guys Records
Associated acts
Phyno
M.I
Reekado Banks
Yemi Alade
Simi
Folarin Falana (born October 27, 1990 in Lagos State), better known by his stage name Falz is a Nigerian rapper, actor, and songwriter.[1] 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 artiste began in 2009.[2] Falz shot into limelight 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.[3][4] He currently owns an independent record label called Bahd Guys Records.[5]
Contents
1 Personal life
2 Early life and education
3 Career
3.1 2009–2013: Early beginnings and Shakara: The Mixtape
3.2 2014–present: Wazzup Guy and Stories That Touch
4 Artistry
5 Discography
5.1 Selected singles
5.2 Albums
6 Filmography
7 Awards and nominations
8 References
9 External links
Personal life
Falz is the son of Femi Falana, a Nigerian human activist and lawyer.[6] He was called to the bar in 2012 after graduating from the Nigeria Law School, Abuja.[7]
Early life and education
Falz was born in Lagos State, South-Westen Nigeria to renowned lawyers Femi and Funmi Falana. He completed his basic and secondary school education at St. Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ikeja and Olashore International School, Osun State respectively.[8] He is an alumnus of the University of Reading after graduating with an LLB honors degree in Law.[9]
Career
2009–2013: Early beginnings and Shakara: The Mixtape
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 mixtape titled Shakara: The Mixtape.[9]
In 2011, Falz released a single titled "Waz Up Guy" before he went on to release "High Class" and "Currency" which gained him grounds in the Nigerian music industry.[9]
2014–present: Wazzup Guy and Stories That Touch
On January 2, 2014, Falz was listed in tooXclusive's "Artistes To Watch in 2014".[10] On 30 May 2014, Falz released his debut studio album titled Wazup Guy which was received to critical acclaim among music critics.[11]
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". On 31 January 2015, he released a single titled "Ello Bae"[12] which won him a nomination in the "Best Street Hop Artiste of The Year" category at The Headies 2015.[13] On 3 November 2015, he announced the release of his second studio album titled Stories That Touch which was later released on 17 November 2015.[14][15]
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.[16] In June of 2016, Falz was voted the winner of the "Viewer's Choice Best New International Act" category at the 2016 BET Awards.[17][18]
Artistry
Falz describes his style of music as "Wahzup music".[19] It is the fusion of comic lyrics with the contemporary hip-hop in a faux Yoruba accent.[20] On 18 November 2014, Falz was ranked #9 on notJustOk's list of "The 10 Most Gifted Rappers In Nigeria 2014" stating that, “Falz’s ability to maintain a thought and get his point across in 16 barz while switching accents, infusing funny punchlines and delivering all of it in a way that makes the listener follow along is nothing short of impressive”.[21]
Discography
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) TBA
"Karashika (Part II)" (featuring M.I & ShowDemKamp)
"Celebrity Girlfriend" (featuring Reekado Banks) Stories That Touch
"Soldier" (featuring Simi) [22]
"Clap" (featuring Reminisce)
2016 "Bahd Baddo Baddest" (featuring Olamide & Davido) Non-album single
Albums
Wazup Guy (2014)
Stories That Touch (2015)
Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes
2015 Jenifa's Diary as Segun Soap
Awards and nominations
Year Event Prize Recipient Result
2014 Scream Awards Best New Act of The Year Himself Nominated
2015 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Rap Act of The Year Nominated
Best New Act to Watch Nominated
Best Collaboration of The Year Falz for "Marry Me" Nominated
The Headies 2015 Best Street Hop Artiste of The Year Falz for "Ello Bae" Nominated
2016 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/Series Himself Won
2016 BET Awards Viewer's Choice Best New International Act Won
2016 City People Entertainment Awards Album of the Year Stories That Touch Won [23]
References
Osagie, Alonge (21 January 2014). "Meet Femi Falana's lawyer-turned rapper son Falz The Bad Guy". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Sherif, OS (25 September 2015). "Falz Biography and Songs (Must Read)". NaijaQuest. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Ade-Unuigbe, Adesola (12 June 2015). "Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Falz, Wizkid, Olamide, Davido & More Nominated for the 10th Annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards". BellaNaija. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Ebirim, Juliet (19 June 2015). "I have big shoes to fill as Femi Falana's son – Falz". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Jaiyesinmi, Doyin (16 June 2012). "#TheNextBigThing:Falz is Femi Falana's son, but that's just 'shakara'". YNaija. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Ekpo, Nathaniel Nathan (1 August 2015). "I Supported my Son Falz but His Mother Did Not …Femi Falana". Nigeria Films. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"Falz The Bahd Guy [Biography]". Sound It. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Tinuola, Joseph (26 February 2014). "HOW FEMI FALANA'S LAWYER SON FALZ BECAME A RAPPER". Ecomium Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Adedosu, Adekunle (2 March 2015). "'No jokes; I'm really searching for a wife' – Falz TheBahdGuy". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Tyler (2 January 2014). "TooXclusive's Artistes To Watch In 2014". tooXclusive. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
The A (13 June 2014). "ALBUM REVIEW: Falz – Wazup Guy". tooXclusive. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"Falz - Ello Bae". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
Badmus, Kayode (30 September 2015). "#Headies2015: Olamide battles fReminisce, Falz and Small Doctor for Best Street Hop". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"Falz Reveals Album Art & Release Date of Sophomore Album, "Stories That Touch"". tooXclusive. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"For second album, Falz tells 'Stories That Touch'". Vanguard Newspaper. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Peters, Oreoluwa (6 March 2016). "How Falz got his award-winning acting break on Jenifa's Diary". YNaija News. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
Igboanugo, Ada (25 June 2016). "Falz wins first BET Award". YNaija. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
Egbo, Vwovwe (25 June 2016). "Falz The Bahd Guy: Rapper bags BET Viewer's Choice Best International Act Award". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
Onikoyi, Ayo (14 February 2015). "Why Femi Falana's Son, Falz Dumped Law for Music". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
Mukaila, Mulikat (29 August 2015). "Why my faux Yoruba style is popular – Falz". Daily Trust Newspaper. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"The 10 Most Gifted Rappers In Nigeria 2014: #9 – Falz". NotJustOk. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
"DOWNLOAD:VIDEO: Falz - Soldier ft. SIMI". NotJustOk. 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
Adedayo Showemimo (26 July 2016). "Full List Of Winners at 2016 City People Entertainment Awards". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 26 July 2016.