Review of Rod Wave’s latest album ‘Last Lap’
By Kendall W.
Ever since October 11, 2024, the release of Rod Wave’s new album Last Lap has been a hit at AHS. With students tuning in to the album, both on and off school campus, and by appealing to all different ages and ethnicities, I can say that this album is a major hit.
According to Wikipedia.org, Rod Wave has stated himself that, “I done grown a lot. I'm growing everyday. You know what I'm saying? You grow every day. Every day I learn something new, I take a step closer. And that is what helped me write this album.”
Last Lap is his seventh consecutive top ten on the Billboard charts and makes him the only artist other than Taylor Swift to chart in the top ten each year from 2019 to 2024.
Overall, Rod Wave’s album Last Lap is amazing, but it's the songs individually that makes the album what it is now.
“IRAN” is one of the top songs on the album and one of my personal favorites. This song explains wanting to heal and wanting to be in love. In our generation being open about hurting has been normalized, but also has normailed healing as well. As someone that can not express their well, hearing an amazing artist like Rod Wave express exactly how I’m feeling, and other children my age is so reassuring as a whole. One of the trending verses in the song states, “Thinkin' to myself all alone, thoughts in the dark, God, please help me heal my heart, In an imaginary world, we ran off alone, Find love and nothin' ever tear us apart.” These lyrics speak to me because I was at a really low point in my life where all I wanted God to do for me, was to heal my heart in ways I couldn't. Other people in similar situations will also find the song relatable and therefore great.
On the opposite side of things, we have “25,” which grew a lot of its popularity from Tik Tok and other social media platforms, but nevertheless still being a song screamed on all platforms. “25” represents growing up as a teen being misunderstood in this world we live in today. It also represents accepting someone even if they are broken and loving them even more despite it. “25” speaks to all the broken souls and lets them know it is okay to not be okay, and what better message for an artist to give with the platform he has.
With the main song of the album being named after the actual album, you know it is certain to be important in the overall flow, vibe, and theme of the album. In truth, it did not disappoint whatsoever. The song “Last Lap” talks about the loss of someone close to you, and not being ready to let go. Then at the same time it also talks about how you need to keep going despite the loss and hurt you do feel. This song is my favorite on the album as a whole because it helped me grieve the passing of my brother. For anyone who has lost a close loved one, trust and believe this song will help you through. One lyric from this song that really spoke to me is when Rod Wave rapped, “What's happening Unc'? I know you looking down smiling at me, I pray that you find some peace, and you're finally happy, But I can't sleep, dawg, I cry every freaking night, This'll probably the hardest chapter of my freaking life.” This smoke to me because when we lose a loved one all we want is for them to watch over us, and hope that they have found peace; at the same time it also is a long hard time in our lives to get through.
Rod Wave's "Last Lap" project received mostly positive reviews from critics. The album shows his main emotional depth, mixing both hip-hop and R&B with personal and inspirational lyrics. Critics highlight his ability to be vulnerable, and then he has his fans who appreciate the authenticity in his music. Many reviews comment on his powerful vocal delivery and the way he translates his life experiences into his songs, touching on themes like struggle, hope, and happiness.
Overall I would give this album a 9.2/10 stars. If you're looking to listen to Rod Wave's album Last Lap, you can find it on more than one platform such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon Music. If you enjoy Rod Wave as much as i do, you might also appreciate the artist: Juice WRLD who is known for his emotive lyrics and melodic sound, Juice WRLD often explores themes of heartbreak and mental health.