Rod Wave

Background

Rodarius Marcell Green, known by his stage name Rod Wave, was born on August 27, 1998, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

When he was in elementary school, Wave’s parents had a divorce. To add to it, his father went to jail. With his family unable to support him, he turned to the streets to make money. Wave found himself going in and out of juvenile centers, being involved with several illegal activities, including dealing drugs, robbing, breaking into homes, and possessing firearms. Wave’s father, later on, got out of jail and quickly realized the type of lifestyle his son was leading. To push him in the right direction, his father encouraged him to pursue music. He bought him a microphone while his brother bought him a computer. With these, Wave was given the tools he needed to turn his life around.

Sure enough, he started experimenting with the equipment given to him and released a few mixtapes. At first, he only saw it as a hobby and a way to keep himself off the streets. To his surprise, he started getting local buzz, showing him that there was potential in his music. Soon after, he signed with Alamo Records, where he collaborated with artists such as Moneybagg Yo. In 2019, he released his mixtape PTSD, in which the single Heart on Ice became a viral sensation on TikTok and other social media platforms. The song achieved commercial success, getting co-signs from big names, including 21 Savage and Meek Mill.

Keeping the momentum going, Wave released his first studio album, Ghetto Gospel, in the same year (2019). In 2020, he released his second studio album, Pray 4 Love, which entered the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts. A lot of artists use collaborations to push their album sales. But Wave chose not to feature anyone in this second project. He did so because the album was very personal for him, which is evident in his vulnerable vocal delivery throughout the work. Beneath the lush instrumentation and hard-hitting drums, there was a pain in his voice as he recalled many memories of his past. From one project to another, Wave proved himself as not just a rapper or singer but also a storyteller. He focuses on lyrics above all else as he always wants to shed more light on the theme of his songs, which are about everyday struggles. His songs are relatable, speaking to people who feel lost.

Wave never really speaks about his personal life outside his music. He lets his fans take a peek into his personal life without trying to incite scandals or drama.