A radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes a transmitter processing module that generates a phase signal that is phase modulated based on outbound data and that generates a amplitude signal that is amplitude modulated based on the outbound data, wherein the amplitude signal is generated in accordance with an amplitude transition rule that restricts an amplitude transition between consecutive amplitudes of the amplitude signal. An up-conversion module phase modulates an oscillation based on the phase signal to generate an up-converted signal. A radio transmitter front-end includes a polar amplifier that amplifies and amplitude modulates the up-converted signal based on the amplitude signal to generate a transmit signal.