Cold December

"Cold December"
"Cold December"
Single by Rod Wave
from the album Beautiful Mind
Released	January 17, 2022
Genre	R&B; trap;
Length	3:13
Label	Alamo; Sony;
Songwriters	Rodarius Green; Thomas Horton; Luke Walker; Justin Bradbury; Evenson Clauseille;
Producers	TnTXD; Lukecmon; JB; ThatBossEvan;
Rod Wave singles chronology
Music video
	"Cold December" on YouTube
Alternate cover
	Alternate cover art of the single

"Cold December" is a song by American rapper and singer Rod Wave. It was released through Alamo Records and Sony Music on January 17, 2022, and is the second single from Wave's fourth studio album Beautiful Mind (2022). The song was produced by TnTXD, Lukecmon, JB, and ThatBossEvan, who all wrote the song with Rod, while the only other known credit is Travis Harrington for being the recording engineer. A country-influenced R&B and trap ballad, the song sees Rod emotionally looking back to previous romantic relationships while it samples American singer-songwriter Hank Williams Jr.'s song, "O.D.'d in Denver", from his thirtieth studio album, Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (1979).^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Background

In an October 2021 Instagram livestream, Rod stated that he most likely would never release "Cold December".^[5] In a livestream on the same day as the song's release, he explained that he only released it because of his $15 million deal contract with Alamo Records and Sony Music, in which both labels wanted him to release the song as they made it part of the agreement, while also hinting at his retirement soon as he said that he does not enjoy fame.^[6]

Music video

The official music video for "Cold December" premiered alongside the release of the single on January 17, 2022. The video opens up with a quote about not letting ego get in the way of life. Rod Wave sports 2012-2017 reality television series Duck Dynasty cargo pants as he chops wood. He sings the song while the wood gradually burns.^[7] Rod reflects on his past relationships while sitting in a cabin in the winter.^[8]

Charts

Chart performance for "Cold December"
Chart (2022)	Peak position
Global 200 (Billboard)^[9]	83
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	38
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[11]	9

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[12]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Aniftos, Rania (February 1, 2022). "Here Are the Lyrics to Rod Wave's 'Cold December'". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Saponara, Michael (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Drops Video for New Single "Cold December' Video But Admits He's Tired Of Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Blanchet, Brenton (January 17, 2022). "Rod Wave Drops Video for New Single "Cold December"". Complex. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ McKinney, Jessica (January 21, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: 2 Chainz, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Key Glock, and More". Complex. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Partridge, Ken (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Samples Hank Williams Jr. On New Song "Cold December"". Genius. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Zidel, Alex (January 19, 2022). "Rod Wave Says He Feels Like He Sold His Soul: "This Sh*t Not Really Me"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Pierre, Alphonse (January 21, 2022). "Rod Wave's New Video Might Be His Loneliest One Yet-Which Says a Lot". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ Hesalwayswrite (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Reflects On Past Love Life In "Cold December" Video". The Source. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ "Rod Wave Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ "Rod Wave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ "Rod Wave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^ "American single certifications – Rod Wave – Cold December". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[1] Aniftos, Rania (February 1, 2022). "Here Are the Lyrics to Rod Wave's 'Cold December'". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[2] Saponara, Michael (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Drops Video for New Single "Cold December' Video But Admits He's Tired Of Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[3] Blanchet, Brenton (January 17, 2022). "Rod Wave Drops Video for New Single "Cold December"". Complex. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[4] McKinney, Jessica (January 21, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: 2 Chainz, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Key Glock, and More". Complex. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[5] Partridge, Ken (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Samples Hank Williams Jr. On New Song "Cold December"". Genius. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[6] Zidel, Alex (January 19, 2022). "Rod Wave Says He Feels Like He Sold His Soul: "This Sh*t Not Really Me"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[7] Pierre, Alphonse (January 21, 2022). "Rod Wave's New Video Might Be His Loneliest One Yet-Which Says a Lot". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[8] Hesalwayswrite (January 18, 2022). "Rod Wave Reflects On Past Love Life In "Cold December" Video". The Source. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[sc_Billboardglobal200_Rod_Wave-9] "Rod Wave Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Rod_Wave-10] "Rod Wave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Rod_Wave-11] "Rod Wave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

[United_StatesRod_WaveCold_DecembersingleCertRef-12] "American single certifications – Rod Wave – Cold December". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

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v t e Rod Wave
Discography
Studio albums	Ghetto Gospel Pray 4 Love SoulFly Beautiful Mind Nostalgia Last Lap
Extended plays	Jupiter's Diary: 7 Day Theory
Singles	"Heart on Ice" "Cuban Links" "Close Enough to Hurt" "Dark Clouds" "Thief in the Night" "Pray 4 Love" "The Greatest" "Girl of My Dreams" "Freestyle" "Street Runner" "Tombstone" "Richer" "Time Heals" "By Your Side" "Cold December" "Stone Rolling" "Alone" "Break My Heart" "Fight the Feeling" "Call Your Friends" "Come See Me" "Boyz Don't Cry" "Checkmate" "Passport Junkie" "Fall Fast in Love" "Westside Connection" "Sinners"
Featured singles	"Before I Go"
Other songs	"Rags2Riches" "Letter from Houston" "SoulFly" "Gone Till November" "Don't Forget" "OMDB" "Already Won" "Home Ain't Home" "Yungen" "Never Get Over Me" "Sweet Little Lies" "Nostalgia" "Long Journey" "Turks & Caicos" "Great Gatsby" "25" "By Myself"
Tours	Nostalgia Tour Last Lap Tour

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