Who is Rod Wave?
Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, is an American rapper, songwriter, and singer. Born in August 1999 and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Rod Wave first started singing and rapping when he was in 5th grade. However, it was not until 2015 that he began to record himself as a professional musician. In fact, his earliest songs and mixtapes were recorded and uploaded on the internet by his colleague. This colleague gave him a lot of motivation and it was after a while that he realized that something great might come from his music.
In 2016, he shot to fame after his breakout single titled Heartbreak Hotel became a hit song. The song gained millions of online streams and approvals. On SoundCloud, the song surpassed a million plays and on YouTube, the official music video has earned over two million views.
He released many singles in 2016 including hit songs, Think Too much, and Gambling. However, in December 2016, he released his official debut mixtape called Hunger Games. It was a 16-track mixtape, which had his breakout single as the leading track. The mixtape was a commercial success and it also earned him more popularity and many bookings for shows.
He released his second mixtape, Rookie of the Year, in June 2017. The mixtape contained 8 tracks including, Pull Up, Jumanji, and 50 Shades, songs that have received extensive plays across several online music platforms. His music was unique and his ability to incorporate R&B and hip-hop together along with his strong voice caught the attention of many record labels and music producers.
Heart On Ice and Ghetto Gospel
He signed his first record contract with Alamo Records in 2018. He released his first mixtape with the record label on June 14, 2019. The mixtape was titled PTSD. It featured his hit song, Heart On Ice, the song with which he is most identified. The song went viral and became a YouTube and TikTok sensation. It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His debut album, Ghetto Gospel, was released on November 1, 2019. The album has received a gold certification from RIAA. It also peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 chart.
Pray 4 Love
He released his second album, Pray 4 Love, on April 3, 2020. The album earned incredible successes. It has received a platinum certification from RIAA. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, with several of the songs on it ranked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rags2Riches, which was the sixth song on the album, peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, he was involved in a nearly fatal accident after he released the deluxe version of Pray 4 Love, in August.
SoulFly
On March 26, 2021, he released his third studio album titled SoulFly. The 19-track album describes his family struggles, upbringing, and most of his life experiences as well as racial disparities. On release, the album topped the Billboard 200 chart and have over 100,000 unit sales in its first week.
Rod Wave’s Influences
He has stated that he draws inspiration from rappers like E-40, Kanye West, and Kevin Gates to make his raps and songs.
Notable Rod Wave Songs
Below are some of the popular songs released by Rod Wave:
I can relate to how he feels and the pain hes talking about in his songs