St. Pete's Rod Wave Goes From Gangs To No. 1 Album In U.S.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Singer, songwriter and rapper Rod Wave, who is a 2017 graduate of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, has the No. 1 music album in the country, according to Billboard 200.

The South St. Pete native — whose birth name is Rodarius Marcell Green — turned his life around when he started chasing his musical dreams.

The 21-year-old singer's new album, "SoulFly" pushed Justin Bieber's album, "Justice," to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated for April 10. "SoulFly" also made it to No. 1 on the "Rolling Stone Artists 500" during the week of March 26 to April 1.

Billboard also reported the song "Tombstone" from the new album had the biggest streaming gain. The Hot 100 showed "Tombstone" climbed from No. 82 to No. 11 for the week of April 10. Other songs from the album on The Hot 100 include "What's Love," "All I Got," "SoulFly," and "Gone Till November."

Green said in an interview with The Breakfast Club podcast on the day his album released that his dad inspired him to go after his dreams of rapping after he got out of prison. He said his father, who he refers to as "pops," went to prison for attempted murder when he was in elementary school. When his dad returned home, he saw that his son was involved in illegal activities such as armed burglary.

The rapper credits his father for helping him change directions with his life after he told him that he was either going to end up in prison or dead. Green didn't immediately change his ways. He was arrested his senior year for bringing a pellet gun to Lakewood High School, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrest records.

While his mom, aunts and grandmothers did their best to raise him, Green said the absence of a male figure didn't keep him out of trouble.

"They tried a lot of (expletive), but I was still persuaded by others," he told the podcast. "A boy needs a man there, and that's why I got into a real gang when I was older. When my daddy came home, he was like, 'Bro, you breaking in houses? That's what crackheads do. You supposed to be out here hustlin', at least I'd respect that. You out here breaking in people's houses and that (expletive) is lame.'"

The lyrics of his songs are about his life experiences, pain, losing loved ones to violence on the south side, making it out of St. Pete, challenges he faces with social anxiety and not enjoying being the center of attention. Music is his safe place, so Green steps out of his comfort zone of not being seen. He is staying humble being loyal to his roots as he worked with a local video production company, Litewave Media, for his recent projects.

"Working with Rod was an incredible experience," Christian Cashmir, owner of Litewave Media told Patch. "He's just got raw, natural talent, and he's also a very genuine person. It's really cool to work with an artist who also hails from St. Petersburg, Florida, like us!"

To listen to his new album and support his merchandise, visit The Bottom Boy Survivor.