11.21.2019

Video: Rod Wave – “Dark Clouds”

The Newly-Minted Superstar Follows Up His Billboard Top 10 Ghetto Gospel Project With a Diaristic Video That Offers Appreciation for His Fans

Critical Praise:

“The 19-year-old can rap at a brisk pace like an ATL rapper, hit a falsetto like a R&B singer, and often digs deep to unleash a gravelly voice that sounds like he’s the lead in a country rock band…he already possesses one of the best voices in the South.” – Pitchfork

“Rod Wave Sings Like an Angel and Raps Like a Demon” – Rolling Stone

“His music is raw and wracked and messy. He sounds like he’s got something at stake. And that, combined with his actual musical ability, gives him a presence that most of his peers don’t have.” – Stereogum

The Video:

Rod Wave is one of the most inspiring underdogs of 2019, rising on a tsunami of grassroots popularity all the way to the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. As a show of gratitude for the fans that helped him get so far, the St. Petersburg, FL-born artist shares “Dark Clouds,” a new music video that’s already racked up over 300k views since its drop last night. “Dark Clouds” is the latest in a long line of deeply felt trap ballads from the unique vocalist, as Rod softly sings about his struggles to overcome his pain, his navigation of his newfound fame, and his love for his family and day ones.

The video follows Rod through his whirlwind recent months, offering clips from studio sessions with Meek Mill and Calboy, electrifying concerts opening for Kevin Gates on the sold-out I’m Him Tour, and a shot of Rod posing with his proud grandmother. Coupled with his recent success, the video offers an inspiring message: after a lifetime of fighting through dark clouds, Rod Wave might finally glimpse a silver lining.

“Dark Clouds” arrives in the wake of Ghetto Gospel, Rod’s wildly successful new project. With heavy use of organic instrumentation, including snaking electric guitars and warm organ swells, Ghetto Gospel gives a proper title to Rod’s spiritual and nakedly-emotional blend of rap music, defined by Rod’s unique singing ability, able to switch from a bluesy croon to rapid-fire triplets at a moments notice. Buoyed by singles like the Lil Durk-featuring “Heart On Ice” (Remix), which made this week’s biggest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #56, and the Kevin Gates-featuring “Cuban Links,” the album climbed to number 10 on the Billboard 200 this week, improving on its position and increasing its streaming total from its #14-placing debut week. Praised by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, and many others, the new album announces Rod’s arrival as a major new voice on the rap scene and is available to stream everywhere via Alamo Records/Interscope.

Rod Wave is currently finishing up a stint opening up for Kevin Gates on the I’m Him Tour, which closes in Seattle on November 30th. With over 46 million streams on his catalog in the past week, and with recognition from the likes of Meek Mill, 21 Savage, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, and many others, Rod is just getting started.

Watch “Dark Clouds”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGxr8-l0vHI

Buy/Stream Ghetto Gospel: https://smarturl.it/ghettogospel

Buy tickets for the “I’m Him Tour”: https://www.kvngates.com/tour

Ghetto Gospel tracklist:

Sky Priority
Dark Conversations
Close Enough To Hurt
Green Light
Brace Face
Poison
Cuban Links feat. Kevin Gates
Soldier Life
Counted Steps
Titanic feat. Kevin Gates
Extra
Abandoned
Chip On My Shoulder
Heart On Ice (Remix) feat. Lil Durk

“I’m Him Tour” dates:
November 21 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
November 24 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
November 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
November 26 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater
November 27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo By Microsoft
November 30 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater