Fresh off the $25,000 gas give-a-way, Rod Wave is at it again with an Easter celebration this Saturday from 1-6 p.m. at the Lakewood Junior Spartan Complex, 4801 31st St. S.
BY KARIN DAVIS-THOMPSON, Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — Deloris Green-Foster admits she wasn’t sure how her grandson would support himself by making music.
“He was just about to graduate from high school, and I wanted him to get a job,” she said. “But he believed in his dream.”
Today, her grandson Rod Wave is not only a local celebrity and has made a name for himself in the world of hip hop. And now, he wants to give back to the community that helped him get his start.
Born Rodarius Marcell Green, he rose to fame in 2019 with the single “Heart on Ice,” which went viral on TikTok and YouTube and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Wave’s debut album, Ghetto Gospel (2019), peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard 200, his second album, Pray 4 Love (2020), peaked at number two, and his third album, SoulFly (2021), debuted at number one.
Last Saturday, the Lakewood High School alum gave away $25,000 worth of gas at the Sunoco gas station in the Skyway Marina District. Hundreds of people showed, waiting hours for up to $50 worth of gas.
This Saturday, however, is all about the kids. On April 16, he will give away bikes, food, and Easter baskets to children from 1-6 p.m. at the Lakewood Junior Spartan Complex, 4801 31st St. S.
Green-Foster, who the superstar calls Nana, said Green would also have face painting and bouncy houses for the children to play.
“He just wants to say thank you to the community that supports him,” she said. “I am so proud of him. His dad gave him his first microphone, and that was it.”
To think back to how he started and the support the city gave him, Green-Foster said, it makes it easy to understand why he wants to help as many as he can in any way he can.
“He was a student at Lakewood High School making his songs, and his friend put them on YouTube,” she said. “People liked it, and he started selling his CDs for $3, and people would buy them. This is his way of saying thank you.”
Saturday’s Rod Wave’s Easter Giveaway is first come, first served, and an adult must accompany all children.
Congratulations on your success and thank you for bringing it back to where you started from.
I can’t ever make it to these events i work and my 12 year old daughter loves your music awesome
It would be a blessing
It’s ok that Rod Wade does his give away to adults with cars and children in need of a bike BUT how about the homeless they don’t need gas. How about the lady with 2 children that are about to be evicted or can’t find an affordable place to live.
If the number of entertainers that have come out of Saint Petersburg would rally to buy properties that are empty and place homeless and that mother that has to live with relatives to survive.
$25,ooo could have helped a lot more people than just his fans.
This city is starving for affordable housing.
So let me challenge the entertainer to do something big in the city that will help everybody.
Will Packer, Angela Basset, Maurice Speights and Rod wade just a few named Saint Petersburg has helped with their careers as entertainement. I also heard that a lot of the food truck had give always last Saturday but failed to feed the homeless but people that support their business that was a wash in the face of 100s of unfeed people.
I so remember him and could just see he would make it out
Mama Blue Love ya you should have done chocolate nutcracker Lol
Wish I could be there Saturday with my kid but unfortunately I gotta be at work
I know this is a wonderful thing that you are doing many people who become famous leave their community behind I am glad you didn’t forget and God Bless You for all the good you are doing
Hello Mr. Rod; my name is Denise Johnson, I am the grandmother of Kamron Johnson; he is the young boy you filmed a music video with about 6 years ago in front of the Circle K on 54th Ave North and 16th street. He is also trying to get some of his music published that he writes and sings himself; he is 18 now; and just graduated High school. We would love to see you this Saturday; what you are doing for our community is so awesome and appreciated; thank you😇😇😇
Mr. Wave is a stellar example of what it means to give back across borders in a highly impactful and meaningful manner. RaceWithoutIsm, Inc salutes Mr. Rod Wave for his selflessness. http://www.RaceWithoutIsm.com
Thank you so much for giving Back l couldn’t make it to the gas giveaway because of health issues but l Thank you for the people that did May God bless you son you have a wonderful grandmother. Who believes in you and your future thanks again