Shad Gregory Moss (born March 9, 1987) is an American rapper and actor. He released his debut album Beware of Dog at age 13, then under the stage name Lil' Bow Wow, which he carried until his 2003 album Unleashed, under simply Bow Wow. Three more albums followed, Wanted in 2005, The Price of Fame in 2006 and New Jack City II in 2009. In 2007, he released the collaboration album Face Off with Omarion.^[1]

Bow Wow made his acting debut in the film Like Mike in 2002. He later appeared in the films Roll Bounce (2005) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). On television, he also is in the cast of Entourage.

Early life

Bow Wow was born in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Teresa Caldwell and Alfonso Moss.^[2] At age three, he became interested in music. Under the moniker "Kid Gangsta", he began rapping recreationally at age six; he was also a fan of N.W.A at that age.^[3] In 1993, he performed at a concert in Los Angeles, and was noticed by rapper Snoop Dogg, who subsequently gave him a stage name, "Bow Wow".^[4] Dr. Dre signed Bow Wow to Death Row Records.^[1] Lil' Bow Wow then appeared on a skit on Snoop's debut Doggystyle, and on his music video of "Gin and Juice".^[5]

Music career

As Lil' Bow Wow

In 1998, at the age of eleven, Bow Wow met record producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped shape his career. At the age of 13, in 2000 he debuted with Beware of Dog under the stage name Lil' Bow Wow. Its debut single was "Bounce With Me", which featured girl group Xscape. The album also included "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" featuring Snoop Dogg, which topped the rap chart,^[6] "Puppy Love", and "Ghetto Girls". The soundtrack to the movie Wild Wild West featured his song "The Stick Up" with his mentor Jermaine Dupri. The Recording Industry Association of America certified Beware of Dog double platinum on March 5, 2001, signifying sales of two million copies.^[7]

In 2002, his second album Doggy Bag was released with singles "Take Ya Home" (with Jagged Edge), which peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "Thank You", #1 on the R&B chart.^[6] Doggy Bag peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart^[8] and was certified platinum.^[7] Lil' Bow Wow performed the track "Basketball" for the soundtrack of his film Like Mike; that song peaked at #1 on the R&B and #25 on the rap chart.^[6]

As Bow Wow

Bow Wow dropped the "Lil" from his stage name in April 2002; he told MTV News: "I changed my name because I'm getting older now and it's too many Lil's."^[9] The first album released under his new moniker was Unleashed in 2003. Its first single was "Let's Get Down," featuring Birdman, the founder of Cash Money Records, which reached #14 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts. The second single was then released, "My Baby", featuring Jagged Edge. Unlike his previous albums, this one was not produced under the mentorship of Jermaine Dupri.^[1] Guest appearances include Jagged Edge, Birdman, Mario, and Amerie.^[1] Unleashed was certified gold on September 25, 2003.^[7] Bow Wow appeared on the remix of JoJo's single "Baby It's You" in 2004.

Wanted was released in 2005. Its first single was "Let Me Hold You", featuring Omarion, and peaked at #1 on the rap chart and #4 on the Hot 100. The next single, "Like You", featuring Ciara, coincided with the beginning of Bow Wow's relationship with the singer.^[10] "Fresh Azimiz", featured J-Kwon and Jermaine Dupri, followed and peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.^[6] The album was certified platinum.^[7] He also appeared on the remix of Dem Franchize Boyz' "I Think They Like Me", which peaked at #15 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks.

In 2006, The Price of Fame was released with the lead single "Shortie Like Mine", featuring Chris Brown, peaking at #9 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks.^[6] "Outta My System", which featured T-Pain, reflected on Bow Wow's break-up with Ciara.^[11] It peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Rap chart.^[6] The Price of Fame was certified gold.^[7]

Bow Wow and Omarion released a collaborative album on December 11, 2007, Face Off. The first single was "Girlfriend," which peaked at #33 on the Hot 100. The second single was "Hey Baby (Jump Off)".^[6]

In October 2008, for the U.S. presidential election, Bow Wow led a 15-city "Walk Across America" event to register new voters.^[12] He released a mixtape title Half Man, Half Dog Vol. 1 that year. Half Man, Half Dog Vol. 2 was released as a sequel to the mixtape in February 2009.^[13] New Jack City II, his sixth album, was released in March 2009 and his first album to include a Parental Advisory: Steven Roberts of MTV News observed that this album explored the "the influence of crack cocaine in inner-city communities" and featured such guests as T.I.^[14] Three promo singles were released in late 2008: "Marco Polo" featuring Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, "Big Girls", and "Roc The Mic". The first official single, "You Can Get It All" featuring Johnta Austin, samples TLC's "Baby-Baby-Baby" and peaked at #55 on the Hot 100 and #9 on the Hot Rap Tracks.^[6] On July 4, 2009 his new song "I Know I'm The Sh**" off his DJ Drama hosted Mixtape he makes a reference of him working on his new album The Transition To Shad Moss and it is already in production. It is most likely that the album will be released in 2010 with the first single being "Dirty Girl" featuring T-Pain & Pitbull because of his youtube video of him finishing up and him calling it his "New Single".

On August 16, Bow Wow announced his signing to Cash Money Records, joining an all-star roster that already includes Drake, Lil Wayne and Birdman, among others. Further details regarding the deal and his forthcoming album were unknown at press time.^[15] He stated that his next album will feature Lil Wayne, Birdman, Drake, and Soulja Boy.

Film career

Bow Wow has had guest appearances on Brandy's TV sitcom, Moesha, as well as The Steve Harvey Show. He made his major acting debut in the film Like Mike which was released on July 3, 2002, in which he starred as a young orphan who gets a shot at playing in the NBA. Before Like Mike he made a cameos in All About The Benjamins, and in "Carmen: A Hip Hopera." Bow Wow also co-starred with Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa L. Williams, and Solange Knowles in Johnson Family Vacation. Since the success of Like Mike, Bow Wow has starred in several Hollywood films, including Roll Bounce and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He has also made guest appearances on Smallville and Ugly Betty. He joined the cast for HBO's fifth season of Entourage as Charlie an up and coming comedian and Eric Murphy's newest client. He will be in the upcoming movie Lottery Ticket with Ice Cube.^[16] He is currently working on a new film called Hurricane Season.^[17]

Philanthropy

Bow Wow, along with other recording artists such as Pink, Avril Lavigne, Eve, Kelly Rowland, ex-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, joined actresses Brittany Murphy, Charlize Theron, Rosario Dawson and Eva Mendes in ads for "empowerment tag" for the ALDO Fights AIDS campaign. The tags, worn as necklaces or bracelets, sold at ALDO stores to benefit the YouthAIDS initiative.

Endorsements and Projects

Bow Wow has appeared in commercials for (BET) "Rap It Up", Twix, Chewits Campbells, and Verbs. Bow Wow owns a shoe store in Atlanta, Georgia, and also franchises a McDonald's there, too. Bow Wow has started the process of buying a share of his local team, the Atlanta Hawks. He currently owns his own record label called LBW Entertainment, on which he has released "Price of Fame".

Discography

Solo albums

• 2000: Beware of Dog
• 2001: Doggy Bag
• 2003: Unleashed
• 2005: Wanted
• 2006: The Price of Fame
• 2009: New Jack City II
• 2010: The Transition To Shad Moss

Collaborative albums

• 2007: Face Off (with Omarion)
• 2010: Stax Of Cash Money Of (with Lil Wayne)

Filmography

References

External links

• Bow Wow on Twitter
• Bow Wow at MySpace
• Bow Wow at Ustream
• Bow Wow at YouTube