The ascent of
Rod Wave continues with SoulFly, what is considered the rapper/singer's third album among a greater number of mixtapes. The platinum success of the 2020 LP
Pray 4 Love in no evident way spoiled
Rod, who acknowledges that he got "rich off rappin' pain" but continues to write with sincerity, as if the processing of his grief is essential for his survival. Even the third-person narratives are rooted in distress and conflict, but that's hardly an artistic crutch. It's simply what he knows. Most powerful is "Tombstone," a gospel-blues-soul-country hybrid for the ages.
Rod's falsetto lilt as he imagines his send-off is as close to heartbreaking as trap-soul -- make that music -- gets. ~ Andy Kellman