Popular Nigerian rapper and actor Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has revealed why he no longer actively represents clients in court, saying his successful music career made it difficult to continue practicing law.
The 35-year-old entertainer studied law at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom before attending the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012.
Although he launched his legal career, Falz began making waves in the entertainment industry in 2011 after releasing his debut single, Wahz Up Guy. Since then, he has grown into one of Nigeria’s most recognized rappers, actors, and entertainers.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Behind The Story podcast, Falz explained that while it is possible to combine music and law, balancing both professions became increasingly challenging as his fame grew.
He recalled a memorable courtroom experience that made him realize his celebrity status could interfere with his legal career.
According to Falz, after announcing his appearance in court, the presiding judge appeared to recognize him and jokingly asked whether he was “the one doing something on the side.”
Falz said that at the time, some lawyers already knew him as the son of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, while others were only beginning to recognize him through his music career.
He responded to the judge’s remark before proceeding with the case, but the encounter left a lasting impression.
Reflecting on the experience, Falz said his increasing popularity would have made courtroom appearances difficult, as they could easily become a distraction. He also noted that potential clients might hesitate to hire him, assuming his entertainment commitments would prevent him from giving their cases full attention.
“My face is very much out there,” Falz said, adding that balancing both careers would have been extremely difficult.
“He said it codedly. At this time, people had started to know me as Femi Falana’s son. Some lawyers in court knew who I was, but others did not.”
Falz said he acknowledged the judge’s question before being allowed to continue with the proceedings.
“Imagine I am now starting to get more acclaim and I pull up in court, it would be chaos. It would distract everything. A client could say they do not want me, thinking I would be busy with other things. It would have been tough for me. My face is very much out there,” he added.
