The swiftly rising hip-hop artist delivered a stunning set for NPR that included a surprise Drake cover.
Rod Wave started 2021 off right by releasing his brand-new album SoulFly, which he has described as a “creative peak” that required an enormous amount of “thought, effort and pain” to produce. This week, fans were blessed with a surprise appearance on the legendary YouTube series, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The set was opened with Rod’s own interpretation of the dreamy intro track to Drakes Take Care, “Over My Dead Body”. The set list also included “Rags2Riches”, “Street Runner” and “Don’t Forget”. Rod Wave was able to give a taste of his new album whilst dipping into hit songs from his previous album, Pray 4 Love. Due to coronavirus, the set was performed “at home” in a tropical-looking outdoor space. A stellar performance, it was truly a showcase of Rod Wave’s ability to convey raw emotion in a manner rarely seen in contemporary hip-hop. This Tiny Desk Concert is a must-see in which the rapper demonstrates just how has earned critical acclaim and the adoration of millions of fans worldwide.
Florida native Rod Wave has set himself apart from his contemporaries with a highly unique style of vocal delivery that fuses conventional rap with melodious singing. Having already generated millions of streams with his breakout singles “Popular Loner” and “Heart on Ice”, his evolution has been impressive to say the least. Rod Wave’s style cannot be reduced to a single genre, with his songs mixing southern rap with R&B, blues and more.