Award-winning rapper, actor and trained lawyer Falz has opened up about why he stopped practising law, saying his growing profile in the entertainment industry eventually made it difficult to continue appearing in court.

Speaking on the Behind The Story podcast, the University of Reading law graduate said balancing legal practice with a flourishing music career became increasingly unsustainable as his public recognition grew.

Recalling one of his courtroom appearances, Falz said a judge subtly acknowledged his life outside the legal profession after he announced his appearance.

“There was a day in court, I announced my appearance. And the judge said, 'Are you not the one doing something on the side?'"

The rapper, born Folarin Falana, said some lawyers at the time knew him as the son of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, while others had begun recognising him through his music career.

According to him, the encounter made him realise that becoming more famous would eventually interfere with his work as a legal practitioner.

"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."

Falz was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012 after earning a law degree from the University of Reading and completing his legal training at the Nigerian Law School. He practised briefly before turning his full attention to music, where he has since built a career spanning rap, acting and social advocacy with projects including Moral Instruction, BAHD and The Feast.