![]() He’s never seen Rod write down a lyric.Īn Alamo Records executive half listens while texting. in an Airbnb closet or an airport lounge, tells the story of Rod doing the vocals for certified gold hit Brace Face with a hotel comforter over his head. Rod’s recording engineer, who travels everywhere in case Rod wants to record at 4 a.m. Rod’s videographer constantly captures the documentary-style tour footage signature to Rod’s music videos. Rod’s tour DJ, a cousin, lounges on a couch. however painful it may be.His music, inspired by his heartbreak and trauma in the Sunshine City, is shaping culture far beyond Florida, connecting to an audience with its own struggles.Īn entourage takes shape backstage on this September night. ![]() However, we can all appreciate that this album does not feel like it was devised for the Hot 100 charts or to satisfy some TikTok craze, but rather was Rod divulging his own truth…. “Pray 4 Love” is not an album one can listen to at all times of the day the subject matter is simply too somber and grim. He continues to explore even larger economic issues burdening America with lyrics like, “I ain’t with the minimum waging/ I ain’t with the modern day slavery”. He covers the fallacies within the American education system, explaining that he went to school for 12 years, got his diploma against all odds, only to sell donuts after graduation to make a living. “The Greatest,” the ninth song on the album, remains one the best Rod Wave singles to date because of the multitude of topics discussed within a mere 2 minutes and 20 seconds. His point is made most clear with the line, “Where I come from, it’s a race to eighteen.” Rod’s focus on examining issues that are often overlooked, such as the generational cycle of violence that ensnares thousands of black men and women every day is what sets him apart. “You know I’m with the gang wrong or right / Willing to pay with my life, so I don’t make it home tonight / Bury me a gangsta,” he raps. One of the stand out tracks on the album, “Thug Life,” gives listeners a glimpse into Rod’s life before “Ghetto Gospel” altered his existence forever. ![]() He preaches about the demonization of black men in America in “5% Tints”: “I will never understand this society / First they try to murder me / then they lie to me/ product of a dying breed.” Rod does not shy away from focusing on pertinent issues in our society, and he is unmatched in our current rap scene as a lyricist. “Rags2Riches” is a much needed and rightfully deserved anthem of celebration that brings levity to the dark, grim work of art. His distaste of modern society and a desire to escape his own harsh reality culminates into a bleak, yet rhythmic outro: “That’s why I say f*ck the world/ Drop me off at the moon, n****/ I don’t give a f*ck what happens.” Rod addresses his haters in “F**k The World,” acknowledging that individuals may dislike him but continue to stream his music nonetheless. ![]() In “No Weakness,” it becomes evident that Rod’s previous life experiences have hardened him, making him believe love is only for the weak: “I don’t shed tears anymore/ Love doesn’t live here anymore.” He further discusses broken relationships and loyalty in his most revealing and intimate track “I Remember.” Detailing traumatic events such as his arrest along with his father’s, Rod promises to never forget where he came from. He opens up about his family and his trust issues with lyrics like “It’s hard to separate the fake, ‘cause they chose us/ Everybody showed up when we blowed up.”įor Rod, the triumph of “Ghetto Gospel” was a double edged sword as he began to feel that those closest to him were only there because he was making money and gaining stardom. With this track and the others that follow, Rod almost makes it seem as if we are reading the very pages of his diary. The title track “Pray 4 Love” opens the album. ![]()
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