Rod Wave facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rod Wave
Rod Wave in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Rodarius Marcell Green
Also known as	The rapper who broke the stage
Born	(1998-08-27) August 27, 1998 (age 27) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul trap
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Alamo (current) Geffen Interscope Hit House (former)
Children	2
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Rodarius Marcell Green (born August 27, 1998), known by his stage name Rod Wave, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is signed to Alamo Records and is known for his strong, emotional voice. He mixes hip hop and R&B music, and is considered a pioneer of the "trap-soul" style.

Rod Wave became very popular in 2019 with his song "Heart on Ice". The song went viral on TikTok and reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. His first album, Ghetto Gospel (2019), was also a big success, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart. His second album, Pray 4 Love (2020), did even better, peaking at number two.

His next three albums, SoulFly (2021), Beautiful Mind (2022), and Nostalgia (2023), all started at number one on the Billboard 200. This incredible success matched a record set by Taylor Swift. His sixth album, Last Lap (2024), started at number two, giving him seven top-ten albums in a row.

Rod Wave has sold over 65 million digital copies of his music in the United States. He has been nominated for major awards, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.

Early life

Green attended Lakewood High School.

Rodarius Marcell Green was born on August 27, 1998, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He had a challenging childhood. His parents separated, and his father was away for some time. His family struggled with money, which made life difficult for him. During this time, Rodarius made some poor choices and got into trouble.

He attended Lakewood High School. When his father returned, he wanted to help his son find a better path. He encouraged Rod Wave to focus on positive activities like playing for the high school football team and making music. His father bought him a microphone, and his brother got him a computer. These tools helped him focus on his musical talent and begin to turn his life around.

Career

2015–2020: Early Career and First Big Hits

Rod Wave's music career began in 2015. He released several mixtapes, which are like unofficial albums, that helped him get noticed. In 2018, he signed a contract with the record label Alamo Records.

In 2019, he released a mixtape called PTSD, which included the song "Heart on Ice". The song became a huge hit on YouTube and TikTok, which helped him become famous. Later that year, he toured with the rapper Kevin Gates. Rod Wave said this experience helped him grow as an artist by showing him how big the world was.

His first official album, Ghetto Gospel, came out on November 1, 2019. It was very successful and reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.

On April 3, 2020, he released his second album, Pray 4 Love. It was even more popular, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Several songs from the album became hits, including "Rags2Riches". In 2020, he was also named to XXL magazine's Freshman Class list, which highlights the best new rappers of the year.

2021–2022: Reaching the Top of the Charts

Green performing in Pittsburgh during his Beautiful Mind Tour, 2022.

Rod Wave's success continued to grow. On March 26, 2021, he released his third album, SoulFly. It went straight to number one on the Billboard 200, which was a first for him. The album included hit songs like "Street Runner" and "Tombstone". He later went on a tour across the United States to support the album.

His fourth album, Beautiful Mind, was released on August 12, 2022. It also debuted at number one on the charts, making it his second chart-topping album in a row. He then went on another successful tour with artists Toosii and Mariah the Scientist.

Later that year, on November 18, 2022, he released a shorter project called an EP, titled Jupiter's Diary: 7 Day Theory. It was also very popular, reaching number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart.

2023–present: Nostalgia and Last Lap

Green performing in Chicago during his Nostalgia Tour, 2023.

On September 15, 2023, Rod Wave released his fifth album, Nostalgia. It became his third album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed at the top for two weeks. Following the album's release, he started the Nostalgia Tour, performing in arenas all over the country.

During this time, he had a disagreement with another artist, Boosie Badazz, about using a part of his song, which is called a sample. They worked on solving the issue.

On October 11, 2024, Rod Wave released his sixth album, Last Lap. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, continuing his streak of successful albums. This made him the only male artist to have a top-ten album every year from 2019 to 2024. He also announced a tour with the same name to support the album.

In April 2025, he released the song "Sinners" for the soundtrack of a movie with the same name.

Artistry

Who Inspired His Music?

Green has taken inspiration from a variety of artists such as Adele (left) and Tupac Shakur (right).

Rod Wave grew up listening to artists like E-40, Boosie Badazz, Kanye West, and Kevin Gates. He has also said that he is inspired by singers like Adele and Ed Sheeran, and the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. He admires how they express their feelings through their music.

His Unique Musical Style

Rod Wave is known for his honest and emotional music. He often writes about his own life, including his struggles and feelings. He has said that making music is like a form of therapy for him, helping him deal with his pain.

His style mixes soulful singing with rapping. Critics have praised his lyrics for being relatable and powerful. He is also known for using samples in his music. A sample is a small piece of an older song that is used to create a new one. He has used samples from a wide range of artists, including Paramore and Hank Williams Jr., to create his unique sound.

Personal life

Rod Wave has two children, who are twins.

Discography

• Ghetto Gospel (2019)
• Pray 4 Love (2020)
• SoulFly (2021)
• Beautiful Mind (2022)
• Nostalgia (2023)
• Last Lap (2024)
• Ghetto Gopsel 2 (2025)

Tours

Headlining

• Ghetto Gospel Tour (2020)
• SoulFly Tour (2021)
• Beautiful Mind Tour (2022)
• Nostalgia Tour (2023)
• Last Lap Tour (2024)
• The Redemption Experience (2025-26)

Supporting

• I'm Him Tour (Kevin Gates) (2019)

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of highest-certified music artists in the United States