Green was born on August 27, 1999, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was raised by his mother and father, who eventually separated while he attended elementary school. He began singing in the fifth grade. Green attended Lakewood High School, from which he graduated in 2017.
Green's career began in 2018. He released several mixtapes independently prior to signing with Alamo Records. On June 14, 2019, he released his mixtape PTSD, which included the song "Heart On Ice". The song went viral on YouTube and TikTok, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Green's debut album, Ghetto Gospel was released on November 1, 2019, and peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard 200.
Green's second album Pray 4 Love was released on April 3, 2020, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200, with a deluxe edition following on August 7. Several songs from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Rags2Riches", which peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and became his highest-charting song. On August 11, 2020, Rod Wave was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class. He is currently working on his third, as yet untitled, album, which was originally set for release on August 27, 2020.
Blessed with a special singing voice, and the knowledge of how best to use it, Florida's Rod Wave is taking his own path to the top of the game. Coming through with a soulful set of Southern sing-raps, Rod has developed a groundswell of regional support through a prolific output that includes 3 projects in the last 12 months. After generating millions of streams with breakout singles “Heart On Ice” and “Popular Loner,” both off June 2019’s PTSD project, Rod levels up with Ghetto Gospel, his 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. Featuring the popular new single "Cuban Links," which features an appearance from Ghetto Gospel executive producer Kevin Gates, and the "Heart On Ice" (Remix), which features an appearance from Lil Durk, Ghetto Gospel is available everywhere.
Close Enough To Hurt
Rod Wave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Drum Dummie made the beat and I'm gon' kill it)
In this life I've been scarred
So I walk around with my guard
And they quick to say Lil Nuni trippin'
I think about my past and get in my feelings (okay)
I think about the people who desert me (okay)
Think about the ones who did me dirty (okay)
I won't let you close enough to hurt me (okay)
And I've been stayin' to myself, I've been movin' low-key
'Cause I don't know you, and nigga, you don't know me
I don't need no new homeboys, nigga, I'm straight
You can keep your handshakes, these niggas snakes, I play it safe
And sometimes I wish bae could understand (okay)
That I am not your average man (okay)
Ain't insecure, I'm just hurtin'
Tryna find out is you worth it?
Openin' up make me worried
And new faces make me nervous (who that?)
Like where these niggas was when we was slidin' in my Acura?
Now they wanna pop ou 'cause them R's is in the back of us
And we be state to state, promoters always got them racks for us
New niggas come 'round, I disappear like Perry the Platypus
In this life I've been scarred
So I walk around with my guard
And they quick to say Lil Nuni trippin'
I think about my past and get in my feelings (okay)
I think about the people who desert me (okay)
I think about the ones who didn't deserve me (okay)
Think about the ones who did me dirty (okay)
I won't let you close enough to hurt me (okay)
In the song Close Enough to Hurt, Rod Wave expresses his fear of being hurt by others due to his past experiences. He begins by admitting that he has been scarred in life, and as a result, he always walks around with his guard up. He is aware that some people might call him crazy for always being on guard, but he doesn't let that bother him. He then reflects on his past, thinking about those who deserve him and those who didn't. He thinks about the people who did him dirty, highlighting the reason why he is wary of opening up to people.
Rod Wave emphasizes that he prefers to stay to himself and move lowkey as he doesn't know others, and they don't know him. He doesn't want new homeboys, and he prefers to stay away from new faces. He's aware that some people could be disingenuous, and he doesn't want to be around them. He feels like he's not an average man, and sometimes wishes people would understand the reason for his constant guard. He's not insecure, but his past hurts have made him cautious. The mention of disappearing, like Perry the Platypus, suggests that he intentionally keeps his distance from new people.
In conclusion, Rod Wave's Close Enough to Hurt is about his fear of being hurt by others, which is understandable given his past experiences. He prefers to keep his distance from new people as a protective measure, and he doesn't want to be hurt again.
Line by Line Meaning
In this life I've been scarred
I've been through tough situations in life.
So I walk around here with my guard up
I am cautious and careful of my surroundings.
And they quick to say Lil Nunny trippin'
People are quick to judge me without understanding my situation.
I think about my past and get in my feelings
I reflect on my past and sometimes it makes me emotional.
I think about the people who deserve me
I think about the people who have shown me love and loyalty.
I think about the ones who didn't deserve me (okay)
I also think about the people who have not shown me love and loyalty.
Think about the ones who did me dirty (okay)
I also think about the people who have hurt me in the past.
I won't let you close enough to hurt me
I am guarded and cautious of people because I don't want to get hurt again.
And I been staying to myself, I been moving lowkey
I have been isolating myself and keeping a low profile.
'Cause I don't know you and nigga you don't know me
I am cautious of people because I don't know their true intentions.
I don't need no new homeboys, nigga I'm straight
I don't need new friends, I am content with the people I have around me.
You can keep yo handshakes, these niggas snakes
I don't trust people easily, many people have betrayed my trust in the past.
I'll play it safe
I am cautious and careful in order to protect myself.
Sometimes I wish baker understand (okay)
Sometimes I wish people would understand me better.
That I am not yo average man (okay)
I am not like most people, my experiences have made me different.
Ain't insecure, I'm just hurting, trying to find out is you worth it
I may seem guarded and distant, but I am just trying to protect myself from getting hurt again.
Opening up make me worry and new faces make me nervous
I am afraid of opening up to new people, and am uncomfortable around strangers.
Like where these niggas was when we was slidin' in my Acura
I am wary of people who weren't there for me during difficult times.
Now they wanna pop up because them Rs in the back of us
I am cautious of people who only want to be around me because of my success.
And we be state to state, promoters always got them racks for us
I am constantly on the move and have to be careful of the people I interact with.
New niggas come 'round and I disappear like Perry the Platypus
I avoid new people who don't understand me and may hurt me.
In this life I've been scarred,
I have experienced pain and hurt in my life.
I won't let you close enough to hurt me (okay)
I am guarded and cautious of people because I do not want to be hurt again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Noel Sellars, Rod Green, Tevin Revells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jdub
on Chip On My Shoulder
RIP to my friend, close friend, great grandfather, dogs, and me. I relate to this song way too much and it reminds me that I have faced so many struggles my whole life at 13 I just find how strong a person can be and just keep it all in (like I did). I just hope everyone is alright these days
k
on Heart 4 Sale
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, that probably Tago)
(Ooh, BearMakeHits) ayy, ya
Ayy, ya
To whom it may concern, or, dear future owner
I have this heart but I can't control it
It loves what it loves, it does what it wanna
Tried to lock it up, but it jumped back on my shoulders
Don't get me wrong, it's a good heart and it's golden
But it's been stolen, on top of that it's been broken
Drug through the mud, it's driving me insane
Tryna spread love, pickin' fights with my brain
Don't want it literally, so over it mentally
So tired physically, it distracts and hinders me
So it's for sale, the best offer gets the box
Gift from my mother but a curse from my pops (fuck you)
Kinda hurts when it locks but it'll get better
Right now I'm tryna focus on putting it back together
After I'm done, you can come pick it up whenever
So I can focus on gettin' back to the cheddar, I swear it's
It's always in the wrong hands
I don't think I'll use it again
I would do the faith thing and give it a try
But if it stay it'll take over my mind
I've got a heart for sale, I don't need it
I've got a heart for sale and it's bleeding
I've got a heart for sale, you can keep it
I've got a heart for sale
It's always in the wrong hands
I don't think I'll use it again
I would do the faith thing and give it a try
But if it stay it'll take over my mind
I've got a heart for sale, I don't need it
I've got a heart for sale and it's bleeding
I've got a heart for sale, you can keep it
I've got a heart for sale, yeah, yeah