It’s Falz's turn to take the Trace Live stage in Lagos

Tagged On Becoming Falzthebahdguy, the event will see Falz step on the same platform that has hosted figures in contemporary Nigerian music such as Omawumi, Flavour and Adekunle Gold.

As all three acts have worked frequently with the different forms of highlife music in Nigeria, Falz is the inaugural hip hop act programmed for the event.

“First [Omawumi reasserted] herself as a musical phenomenon at the maiden edition,” reads a statement from event organiser Trace TV. “Then Flavour rehashed highlife with a dash of sultry pop to the cheering of a very discerning crowd. Adekunle Gold took it a notch by thrilling the audience with his new album, About 30, which has been critically acclaimed.

"Trace Live with Falz would continue this trajectory with the Rapper’s insightful hit ‘This is Nigeria’ that has gotten the whole country wagging for its pungent criticism of the Nigerian state.”

Falz’s sophomore album Stories That Touch and a few singles off his third album 27 have received praise from his country’s audience. He has also enjoyed a rich vein of attention over the past few months, mostly for his version of the Childish Gambino hit ‘This Is America’ and then for a recent nomination ahead of the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

Some of his other works include non-album singles like ‘Wehdon Sir’ and a comedic turn on the series Jenifa’s Diaries. He has also released a collaborative EP titled Chemistry with the songstress Simi.

The Trace Live event seeks to showcase the live performance abilities of Nigerian musicians. The event, says an official statement, “highlights only the best blend of vocals and musical instruments”. It “spotlights one artist and a band and is the biggest live performance show from Trace TV” in partnership with Bolanle Austin Peters of Terrakulture and company Cabal Entertainment.