BOW WOW
As a preteen, Bow Wow had his first rap hit, placing him in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest solo rapper to hit number one. As he grows into his adult years, his career hasn’t slowed at all; not only is his music career continuing to flourish, but he has also had a string of hit movies.
Born as Shad Gregory Moss on March 9, 1987, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio , Bow Wow grew up with his mother and step-father, half sister, and two step-siblings. At the tender age of five, when most kids are entering Kindergarten, Bow Wow adopted the name Kid Gangsta, and started his career as a rapper. A year later, it was Snoop Dogg who discovered him, changed his name to Lil’ Bow Wow, and hired him as his opening act. The next person to help Bow Wow was record producer Jermaine Dupree, who gave him a more defined direction.
Bow Wow’s first album, Beware of Dog, was released in 2000, and spawned the number one hit, Bounce With Me, as well as a hit he recorded with Snoop Dogg, Bow Wow (That’s My Name). Success was happening for Bow Wow, yet he managed to stay grounded. While maintaining straight A’s in school, he was driving Madonna on stage at the Grammy Awards in a rhinestone-encrusted limo. His next on-screen appearances were as a guest star on Moesha, starring Brandy Norwood, and in the TV movie Carmen: A Hip Hopera, starring Beyoncé Knowles and Mekhi Phifer.
In 2002, Bow Wow dropped the “Lil’“ from his name and released his second album, Doggy Bag, which brought him two more hits with Take You Home and Thank You, which was recorded with the band Jagged Edge. Along with filming a minor roll in the movie All About the Benjamins with Ice Cube, Bow Wow also had his first starring role in the movie Like Mike. He recorded a song for the soundtrack, Basketball, in addition to also contributing to Wild Wild West, Will Smith’s song from the movie of the same name.
The following year was big for Bow Wow, as it was the first time he recorded without the assistance of Dupree, in the making of the album Unleashed. However, this was the first time he didn’t do extremely well in album sales. He continued his acting career as well, filming the movie Johnson Family Vacation with Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa L. Williams, and Shannon Elizabeth, and an assortment of commercials for Twix, Campbells, and others.
In 2005, Bow Wow appeared in the movie Roll Bounce, about the roller skating crazing in the 1970s, and released another album, Wanted, being once again under the direction of Dupree. This album allowed him to once again enjoy number one hits, including Let Me Hold You and Like You, the latter of which was recorded with his girlfriend, Ciara. That year he showed up to the MTV Music Awards with Ciara wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring, though they denied every being engaged. The couple later broke up.
The next year, 2006, Bow Wow filmed The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, with Lucas Black and Zachery Ty Bryan; and later had a guest star spot on an episode of Smallville, starring Tom Welling. Late in the year he released another album, which he described as being much edgier and mature than his previous efforts. His single Shortie Like Mine was reportedly about his breakup with Ciara. To go along with this edgier and mature side, he cut his hair, getting rid of his signature braids.
When not recording music or making movies, Bow Wow owns his own McDonald’s franchise in Atlanta, , and has his own clothing line, Shago. |
