Rod Wave Is The Emotional Music Box We Can’t Get Enough Of

Rod Wave turned 26 on August 27th, and fans are celebrating the music that has gotten them through heartbreaks, depression, and the hardships of everyday life.

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The St. Petersburg, Florida superstar held his birthday bash on Saturday, August 24th, in Tampa, just a few miles from his hometown.  The concert, which included guests ​​42 Dugg, Lil Durk, and YTB Fatt, drew thousands of spectators from throughout the state.  This was the second in a row that brought his supporters together to celebrate the artist who is helping shape the industry.

Wave’s emotionally charged music frequently blends elements of hip-hop, R&B, soul, and even pop.  He famously sampled Plan White T’s single, “Hey There Delilah,” on his 2021 single, “By Your Side.” The track went viral for its reference to the 2006 hit, earning Wave a two-time platinum-certified plaque.  However, this would not be his only work to reach such heights. 

After rising to fame in the late 2010s, Wave captured hearts with his breakout commercial smash, “Heart On Ice.” Like most of his catalog, the track explores the theme of pain and resilience, which has resonated with the masses.  This served as the lead single from his debut commercial album, “Ghetto Gospel,” which peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 after its November 2019 release.  By March 2020, “Ghetto Gospel” was certified gold and has since achieved platinum status.  Such success became the norm for Wave, with April 2020’s “Pray 4 Love,” “Soulfly,” and “Nostalgia” all going gold or platinum.

Wave has caught some slack online for making “sad” music.  He has said in the past that he’d attempt to make less gloomy tunes, even delivering the 2023 vacation-enthused hit, “​​Turks & Caicos,” featuring 21 Savage.  While hearing Wave in this pocket is refreshing, his day-one fans have not grown tired of the more passionate subject matters.