Rod Wave was arrested in Atlanta on suspicion of multiple offenses the same day he scored his first-ever Grammy nomination, according to Fulton County jail records cited by NBC News. The simultaneous career milestone and legal development quickly put the rapper-singer back in the headlines, prompting renewed attention on his rise and his ongoing legal challenges.
Who Is Rod Wave?
Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter signed to Alamo Records. Blending melodic rap with confessional songwriting, he built a devoted following with emotionally direct tracks that blur the line between hip-hop and R&B.
His breakout came in 2019 with the viral hit “Heart on Ice,” which took off on TikTok and climbed to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. He followed that momentum with a prolific run of albums: Ghetto Gospel (2019), Pray 4 Love (2020), SoulFly (2021), Beautiful Mind (2022), Nostalgia (2023), Last Lap (2024), and Ghetto Gospel 2 (2025).
On November 7, 2025, Wave received his first Grammy nomination in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category for “Sinners,” featured in the 2025 film of the same name. The nod marked a major awards breakthrough for the chart-topping artist, underscoring his continued mainstream reach.
Arrest Details And Attorney Response
Hours after that Grammy recognition, Wave was arrested in Atlanta on November 7 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm or knife, and reckless driving, per Fulton County jail records viewed by NBC News. He was released the next day, November 8, according to the outlet.
Wave’s defense attorneys—Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, and Zack Findling—issued a statement about the arrest, calling it unlawful and alleging profiling by law enforcement. “On the same day he earned a Grammy nomination, he was unjustly profiled and unlawfully arrested in Atlanta,” the legal team said in a statement to Life & Style.
The attorneys specifically criticized the Atlanta Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit, describing it as “a group known for its aggressive tactics and emphasis on high arrest numbers rather than genuine public safety.” They added, “Mr. Green was targeted as part of this quota-driven approach, a practice that undermines justice and erodes community trust.”
They concluded that they look forward to “vigorously challenging this baseless arrest and the clear violations of Mr. Green’s rights in court.” Separately, attorney Drew Findling told TMZ that Wave had already made his first court appearance and was released on an $8,000 bond.
At this time, no further details on the traffic stop or the circumstances surrounding the arrest have been made public beyond the listed charges. As with all pending cases, the allegations have not been proven in court.
Grammy Nomination For Sinners
The arrest arrived on the same day Wave earned his inaugural Grammy nod, a notable career first for the multi-platinum artist. “Sinners,” his nominated track, appears in the 2025 feature film Sinners and landed in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category—a field that often spotlights standout contributions to film and television.
For Wave, who has steadily grown from viral breakthrough to consistent chart success, the recognition marks a key validation from the Recording Academy. It also draws a line between his studio output and his increasing footprint across multimedia projects, complementing his prolific album schedule.
Previous Legal Issues
Wave has faced legal scrutiny before. Earlier in 2025, he was arrested twice in Georgia: once in May on 14 separate counts—among them aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit a felony, according to public records cited by Life & Style—and again in June on a battery charge. He was also arrested on a battery charge in October 2020.
In each instance, he was released on bond. The outcomes of those cases were not immediately clear at the time of publication, and his attorneys did not respond to Life & Style’s inquiries regarding their status.
The latest arrest adds to a year marked by both heightened professional visibility and escalating legal entanglements. While the Grammy nod underscores Wave’s cultural impact, the pending charges will likely dictate the near-term legal roadmap for the artist, with his attorneys signaling an aggressive defense.
Career Momentum Amid Scrutiny
Wave’s catalog has long centered on vulnerability, heartbreak, and perseverance, themes that helped “Heart on Ice” resonate beyond traditional genre lines. That blueprint powered the chart-topping SoulFly and sustained him through 2022’s Beautiful Mind and 2023’s Nostalgia, as well as subsequent releases into 2024 and 2025.
As his profile increases, the tension between his artistic milestones and legal issues has grown more visible. The simultaneous nature of his 2025 Grammy recognition and arrest illustrates that contrast in stark terms, putting the spotlight on how he and his team navigate the months ahead.
Representatives for the Atlanta Police Department did not immediately issue additional comment in the materials cited by the outlets above. Screen Rant will update this story as more information becomes available.
