Posted by St. Petersburg, FL – Rod Wave was reportedly arrested on Monday (May 2) and for battery by strangulation. According to court documents shared by The Neighborhood Talk, the Florida rapper and singer was detained over an incident involving an anonymous individual. The report doesn’t contain many details about the charge but states Rod Wave was taken into custody by the St. Petersburg Police Department in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Rod Wave took to his Instagram prior to his arrest on Monday and showed flashing cop lights in the distance while he shook his head in disappointment. “This is why I don’t even come here,” he can be heard saying about his hometown in the video.
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Rod Wave’s arrest overshadowed a massive announcement the “By Your Side” lyricist shared on Sunday (May 1). The rapper quietly took to YouTube to drop a freestyle over Future’s new track “Wait For U.” While rapping some emotional bars, he then announced his new album Beautiful Mind will drop on June 3.
It’s unclear if his arrest will cause any delays in the album’s release. Rod Wave dropped off his third album SoulFly last March, which had one feature from Polo G and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Rod Wave Teases ‘Dream’ Collab With Future While Giving Update On New Album
The unveiling of a new album was a welcome relief for Rod Wave fans considering he discussed leaving the music industry earlier this year.
“I’m only here for a little longer and when I say that as in Rod Wave,” he said in an Instagram Live session. “I’m only here for a little money. I’ll leave y’all straight though. I gave y’all straight crack. Nobody was fucking with me with that pen.”
Check out Rod Wave’s “Sorry 4 The Wait” freestyle below.