Last Lap

No matter how hard he appears to try, Rod Wave seems unable to escape the sadness. As the veritable king of pain rap, the St. Petersburg, Florida, artist has frequently sworn off the emotional depths that came to define his catalog, only to return to this thematic well again and again to produce masterful works born of hard times and mired in misery. As such, the trap-soul hybrids his fans continue to expect and, perhaps, demand from him persist on his sixth studio album *Last Lap*. Case in point: The finality implied by its title runs counter to the title track’s closing refrain, his inability to let go less a choice than a calling. From the very beginning, Rod shows that he’s still wrestling with demons. Opener “Turtle Race” mourns the lost while fretting over fresh woes, not the least of which being an ominous interaction with law enforcement. “Federal Nightmares” furthers the narrative as he watches loved ones ensnared by a carceral system while wondering if he too will be harmed or even destroyed by it. Not surprising given the gravity of its contents, only a few vocal guests get to enter his inner sanctum this time around. Lil Yachty and Lil Baby trade knowing verses with their peer on the unfiltered “Fuck Fame,” while Rylo Rodriguez shares some experiences worth processing on the frank advice session “Jersey Numbers.” Thankfully, a hopeful streak emerges now and then to counter the anxious gloom, evidenced by the heartfelt declarations of “25” and the powerful positive thinking behind the gospel-tinged “The Best.” No passive figure in his own story, he strikes back against hater mentalities on “Apply Pressure” and jet-sets defensively on “Passport Junkie.”