Rodarius Marcell Green (born August 27, 1998),[1][2] known professionally as Rod Wave, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Signed to Alamo Records, Green is known for his strong voice and incorporation of hip hop and R&B,[3] having been recognized as a pioneer of "trap-soul."[4][5] Green rose to fame with his 2019 single "Heart on Ice," which first went viral on TikTok and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] His debut album, Ghetto Gospel (2019) peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200.[7] His second album, Pray 4 Love (2020) peaked at number two on the chart and included the song "Rags2Riches" (remixed featuring Lil Baby), which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][8]
His third studio full-length studio album, SoulFly (2021), marked his first album to debut atop the Billboard 200, and spawned the two Billboard Hot 100-top twenty singles "Street Runner" and "Tombstone".[9] His fourth album Beautiful Mind (2022) debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking his second consecutive #1 album on the chart.[10][11] His fifth album, Nostalgia (2023) likewise debuted atop the chart and spent two weeks at the top position while earning Green further critical acclaim for his soulful delivery and lyricism.[12] His success matched that of Taylor Swift as the only artist to debut a new chart-topping solo album within each of the previous three years.[13] All of Green's studio albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and he's the only rapper to have achieved a platinum album each year from 2019 to 2023.[14]
Green has sold 65 million digital copies in the United States, ranking him among the highest certified artists in the United States. He has been nominated for one American Music Award, one Billboard Music Award, and one iHeartRadio Music Award. On May 14, 2024, Sony Music reported a 17% increase in revenue in the fiscal year. Green's Nostalgia was listed among the top-earning projects released through the label.[15] On May 15, Billboard Boxscore reported Green among the top twenty-five grossing hip-hop touring acts of all time at number 21, reporting that Green's tours have grossed over $36 million from thirty-one reported shows.[16]