Rod Wave sounds more confident and emotionally balanced while navigating success, relationships, and personal growth on “Don’t Look Down.”

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. I Am

I think the way an artist starts an album is extremely important, and Rod Wave made a strong choice with “I Am” (It’s technically the first track on the album that he’s on). The track kicks Don’t Look Down off fantastically, riding a bass-heavy trap beat that also features some genuinely touching elements. Rod uses it to talk about leveling up, moving correctly in the streets, and creating music that people can respect.

What really stands out to me is how he mixes a gutter mentality with some soul, especially through the sections where he flips moments from Ye’s “Last Call.” It gives the song a nice balance between toughness and reflection. It’s a very good way to start the project.

4. Venusian (Ft. Hazlett)

“Venusian” doesn’t get much more intimate. The heavenly instrumental feels almost weightless, giving Rod Wave the perfect backdrop to talk about finding euphoria with someone he considers special. He isn’t looking for some casual connection here. He wants a love with no limits, where he can completely lose himself in another person.

What I really love is how vulnerable Rod sounds throughout the track. He sounds completely comfortable letting his guard down. You overly testosteroned-up dudes online need to take lessons.

3. 2017 (Streamer U) (Ft. Aimee Carty)

“2017 (Streamer U)” might feature Rod Wave’s strongest performance on the entire album. Aimee Carty, Jared McCain’s twin, handles a lot of the heavy lifting through a sample of her cult favorite “2 Days Into College,” but Rod takes that foundation and gets incredibly personal. He looks back at the decisions he’s made, acknowledges the regrets he might carry, and still comes to the conclusion that he wouldn’t change anything about how he came up. I love how soft and genuine he sounds here. There’s something incredibly heartwarming about it because, more than anything, this performance just feels real.

2. One More Time

Walahi, only Rod Wave can take some reckless Lil Wayne lyrics and turn them into something this passionate. On the track, which is driven by bass-heavy production mixed with these dreamy bedroom vibes, Rod recites bars from Lil Wayne’s verse on “Every Girl In The World,” using them to talk about putting his main chick through the mattress. It works from a nostalgic standpoint, but I also love how Rod completely makes the words his own. The bedroom atmosphere, the urgency in his singing, and the sheer thirst in the lyrics all come together beautifully.

1. Mainstay (Ft. Luv Von)

I’m still not ready to call Rod Wave a singer, but goddamn, he sounds fantastic on “Mainstay.” The instrumental is ridiculously pleasant, as pleasant as LeBron James’s white voice, and it gives Rod plenty of room to showcase his vocals. He delivers one of his most beautiful performances here, singing about trying to convince someone he loves to stay with him and push through the difficult moments together. What makes the track even better is Luv Von, who comes through with vocals that are somehow even more beautiful than Rod’s. He stays in the background for most of the song before getting his chance to shine near the end, and that final stretch is excellent.

SONG BY SONG RATING

Summer Joy Intro (N/A)

I Am (4/5)

Piece Of Your Love (3.5/5)

Hustle (4/5)

Look At Me Momma (4/5)

Feed The Streets (3.5/5)

Mainstay (Ft. Luv Von) (5/5)

War Wounds (3.5/5)

Venusian (Ft. Hazlett) (4/5)

TP (3/5)

Keep Dancing (Ft. Hazlett) (4/5)

LaCosa Nostra (3/5)

One More Time (4/5)

Not New To It (3/5)

The Inspo (3.5/5)

Overrated (3.5/5)

2017 (Streamer U) (Ft. Aimee Carty) (4/5)

Lost and Insecure (4/5)

Florida Boy (3.5/5)

Kiss Me Interlude (3.5/5)

Dope Girl (3.5/5)

Take Care (4/5)

All I Ever Had (3.5/5)

Toast (4/5)

RGM RATING

(C)

One thing that immediately stood out to me on Don’t Look Down is how different Rod Wave sounds when it comes to success. Throughout the project, he talks about the bags he’s accumulated while simultaneously sounding like he’s one wrong look away from crashing out. I actually think the added hostility benefits him. When he gets into love and heartbreak, though, there’s a much healthier perspective. He doesn’t spend the album drowning in depression. Instead, he sounds more comfortable with himself, his relationships, and getting it in.

Unfortunately, I struggled to latch onto much of the music. There aren’t many choruses that stayed in my head after the songs ended. Rod also has plenty of interesting thoughts, but he doesn’t always explain them in ways to make them hit emotionally. At times, it feels like he’s experimenting with different approaches just to see what sticks.

I also noticed just how much sampling happens throughout the album. Honestly, those ended up being some of my favorite moments. Sorry, Boosie Badazz. Rod pulls from artists like Kanye West, Drake, and Lil Wayne, sometimes borrowing lines almost word for word, while directly sampling songs such as “2 days into college” featuring Aimee Carty. It’s definitely excessive, but when the results sound this good, I can forgive it.

My other issue? Twenty-four tracks. No features. That’s a damn lot of Rod Wave.

I’m not convinced Rod Wave is growing expeditiously as an artist, but I absolutely believe he’s growing expeditiously as a human. For the first time, I found myself paying more attention to his unfiltered thoughts than the actual music. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.