Rapper Rod Wave has publicly criticized concert ticket prices amid his ongoing $27 million lawsuit with touring company Grizzly Touring. During an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, Wave delved into his frustrations with current touring and ticketing structures, specifically targeting the practices of ticketing companies and resellers.

Wave expressed his desire for concert tickets to be affordable for his fanbase, ideally in the range of $55 to $85. However, he lamented the inability to control the final price, stating, “The tour ticket sh— so crazy because I could tell the people, ‘Hey, I want to sell this ticket for $55, $85.’ They could do whatever the f— they want to do with it — motherf—er gone be 300.” He firmly believes that the companies setting ticket prices and the resellers are "with the bullsh—," leading to exorbitant costs that alienate fans.

This drive for control stems from his grassroots beginnings, where he built his career from the ground up, recalling performing for only 80 people in Oakland, California, between 2018 and 2019, to now selling out venues with 18,000 attendees. Wave emphasized his profound connection to his audience and his distrust of companies that he feels only prioritize profit over the fan experience. “I built this sh— up from the ground. So I can’t just put this sh— in your hands, man, and let you do it. You don’t give a f— about these people. You ain’t never even heard my song. You just want to make the money,” he asserted.

As a significant step towards reclaiming autonomy over his career, Rod Wave revealed that he is in the process of launching his own venture, Mainstay Touring. He views the lawsuit with Grizzly Touring, which accuses him of owing funds due to cutting his latest tour short, as an understandable consequence of his move to establish his own touring company. He framed the situation as a necessary "war" over substantial financial stakes, stating, “They better sue…It better be a war. It should be a war. You talking about $30 and $40 and $50 million at a time that these folks taking home. So, yeah, it should be a war. It better be. It ain’t right if it ain’t one.”

Earlier, in an interview with Billboard, Rod Wave had attributed the early termination of his most recent tour to "routing" issues. This incident further solidified his resolve to become more "hands-on" with the operational aspects of his tours, leading to his current efforts to establish Mainstay Touring and gain greater oversight of his live performances and ticket pricing.