Since sharing his debut record in 2018, Rod Wave has been consistent in putting one project out every year. Most recently, that came in the form of March 2021’s SoulFly and its subsequent deluxe that arrived in August 2021, capping off an emotionally potent AOTY candidate run.
When contextualizing this prior consistency, it felt strange that Rod had only released one song halfway through 2022, January’s “Cold December.” But as summer began to wind down, these concerns were finally quelled, with Rod Wave making his full-length return on Friday (Aug. 12) in the form of Beautiful Mind, continuing his LP streak.
Beautiful Mind‘s track list consists of 24 songs, two features from Jack Harlow and December Joy, four of its pre-released singles and an interlude performed by viral comedian Druski. The album’s preceding promotional singles, “Stone Rolling” (July 26) and the album’s intro “Alone” (Aug. 9), prepared fans for another melodic whirlwind of emotions. “Stone Rolling” was the third pre-released single after “Cold December” and November 2021’s “By Your Side.”
The song sees Rod passionately croon over a guitar-laced instrumental which has been his fool-proof, go-to formula for years now. The accompanying visuals for “Stone Rolling” follows the Floridian singer as he embarks on summer vacation trips throughout the country. Similarly, “Alone,” which Rod teased on his Instagram last week, is a melancholic tone-setter for the album, as he croons about lost love and provides another music video for the project.
The “Stone Rolling” visuals likely serve as a precursor to the life Rod Wave is ready for, as a tweet he put out in June explains that Beautiful Mind will be the last album of his that utilizes his beloved, downtrodden style.
With Beautiful Mind‘s arrival, it’s looking like this project will be the end of a dramatic, therapeutic era provided by one of hip-hop’s most emotionally vulnerable artists.
Check out Rod Wave’s new album below!
