Rod Wave has become a massive star with his brand of pain music: melodic, R&B-influenced rap that lays bare the trauma of the hustle. His ascent from the streets of Florida to sold-out shows with enraptured audiences is unlikely, and no one's more aware of that than Wave himself, a feeling he explores in his new song "Stone Rolling."
Over a morose beat driven by a gentle guitar melody, Wave writes from a place where his dreams of traveling the world have been fulfilled. For a brief moment, the spell his fast-paced lifestyle casts over him has broken, and he croons longingly about a future with roots: no drugs, no leeches in his circle, and a spot by the beach for his kids. "The grass is always greener" is a cliche, yes, and the fact there is truth in cliches is also a cliche. But Rod Wave has a way of making even the most tired tropes feel rediscovered through his voice.
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Rod Wave's new album Beautiful Mind is out on August 12 via Alamo. Watch the "Stone Rolling" music video above.
