Shad Gregory Moss, better known by his stage name Bow Wow, is an American rapper, actor
and television host.
As Lil' Bow Wow, he released his first album, Beware of Dog in 2000 at age 13, which was
followed by Doggy Bag 2001.
In 2003, Bow Wow released his third album Unleashed, which was the first album released
without using Lil' in his name.
Bow Wow made his first movie appearance in All About the Benjamins, in 2002 as a cameo.
In the same year, Bow Wow made his debut as the lead role in Like Mike.
He later began to undertake lead roles in movies, such as Johnson Family Vacation in
2004 and Roll Bounce in 2005.
He also played a supporting role in the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006.
Bow Wow also appeared in five episodes of the television series Entourage.
He is currently the new host of BET’s 106 & Park and is working on his new album entitled
Underrated.
Life and career Bow Wow was born Shad Gregory Moss in Columbus,
Ohio, the son of Teresa Caldwell and Alfonso Moss.
At age three, he became interested in rap.
Under the moniker "Kid Gangsta", he began rapping recreationally at age six; he was
also a fan of N.W.A at that age.
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".
Beware of Dog In 1998, at the age of eleven, Bow Wow met
record producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped shape his career.
In 1999, the soundtrack to the movie Wild Wild West featured his song "The Stick Up"
with his mentor Jermaine Dupri.
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 R&B girl group Xscape.
The album also included "Bow Wow" featuring Snoop Dogg, which topped the rap chart, "Puppy
Love", and "Ghetto Girls".
The Recording Industry Association of America certified Beware of Dog double platinum on
March 5, 2001, signifying sales of two million copies.
In a 2009 interview, the rapper claimed that the album had sold over 3 million copies since
its release.
Doggy Bag, Like Mike OST and name change In 2002, his second album Doggy Bag was released
with singles "Take Ya Home" which peaked at #72 on the Hot 100 and #21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop
Songs chart, and "Thank You" with Jagged Edge, #1 on the R&B chart.
Doggy Bag peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart
and was certified platinum.
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.
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."
Unleashed The first album released under his new name
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.
Guest appearances include Jagged Edge, Birdman, Mario, and Amerie.
Unleashed was certified gold on September 25, 2003.
Bow Wow appeared on the remix of JoJo's single "Baby It's You" in 2004.
Wanted 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.
"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.
The album was certified platinum.
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.
Bow Wow ended his relationship with Ciara in 2006.
The Price of Fame and Face Off 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.
"Outta My System", which featured T-Pain, reflected on Bow Wow's break-up with Ciara.
It peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Rap chart.
The Price of Fame was certified gold.
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".
New Jack City Part II In October 2008, for the U.S. presidential
election, Bow Wow led a 15-city "Walk Across America" event to register new voters.
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.
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
influence of crack cocaine in inner-city communities" and featured such guests as T.I.
Three promo singles were released in late 2008: "Marco Polo" featuring Soulja Boy, "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.
On July 4, 2009 his new song "I Know I'm The Shit" off his DJ Drama hosted Mixtape he makes
a reference of him working on his new album Underrated and it is already in production.
On August 16, Bow Wow announced his signing to Cash Money Records, joining an all-star
roster that already includes Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne and Birdman, among others.
Underrated Bow Wow signed to Cash Money Records in 2009,
and his next album Underrated will be released on the label.
The record has undergone a number of delays and in mid-November 2011, Bow Wow announced
on his blog that the record wouldn't be out before 2012.
The album will feature with Birdman, Boyz II Men, Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Fabolous,
Game, Lil Wayne, Lloyd Banks, Meek Mill, Nas, Nelly, Sean Kingston, Snoop Dogg, DMX, Styles
P and Talib Kweli.
The first promo single being "For My Hood", featuring DJ Khaled & Sean Kingston.
On November 1, 2010, Bow Wow released his first promotional single from the album entitled
"Ain't Thinkin' 'Bout You" featuring Chris Brown.
The music video was a success on 106 & Park and made the countdown in just 1 day.
Two weeks later it peaked number 1 on the chart and remained number 1 for 3 days.
On June 2, 2011, the first single from his album called "I'm Da Man", which features
Chris Brown, was leaked and wasn't the first official single from the album.
On October 24, 2011, Bow Wow released the single entitled "Sweat" featuring Lil Wayne
though it was thought to be the first official single from the album it was also dubbed by
Bow Wow as a promotional single.
On May 18, 2012, Bow Wow released the first single from the album entitled "Better" it
featured T-Pain the music video for the song was directed by Bow Wow's personal camera
man Rico Da Crook & was a success on 106 & Park and made it to the top of the countdown.
On June 26, 2012, Bow Wow released the second single from the album entitled "We In Da Club"
& was produced by DJ Mustard.
The song has gained a lot of success & the video was also another success on 106 & Park
making it to the top of the countdown.
The third single scheduled from the album which will feature Miguel is entiled "Right
Now".
It was announced that Universal Republic Records was going defunct, all of the artists on the
roster moved from the label including was being moved to Republic Records making the
label itself revived.
On August 10, 2013 via his official YouTube page Bow Wow stated the reason that Underrated
has been delayed is due to him raising his daughter & waiting to he is more mature, he
also stated he plans on working & releasing the album after he turns 28.
As of 2014 Bow Wow has currently posted new single called NAH on his YouTube page and
has restated that he is working on a Ep album and movie bio based on his life.
On June 24, 2014 Bow Wow announced via Instagram that after 2014 BET Awards, he is changing
his stage name from Bow Wow to his real name Shad Moss claiming that he made a lot of history
as Bow Wow now it's time for the next chapter and challenge as "Bow Wow" does not fit because
he's now a father , host , actor and he's matured from what he's been early on his life.
Other ventures Acting career
Bow Wow has made guest appearances on Brandy's TV sitcom, Moesha, as well as The Steve Harvey
Show and Brothers Garcia.
He made his 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 cameos in All About The Benjamins and "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, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Hurricane Season.
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 starred in a 2010 comedy film, Lottery Ticket, with Ice Cube.
He is working on a documentary on his life entitled Who Is Shad Moss?; Bow Wow stated
that the documentary goes all the way back when he was on Death Row Records and it was
released in 2011.
Bow Wow starred in the film version of Madea's Big Happy Family, released in April 2011.
BET's 106 & Park On October 1, 2013 it was confirmed that Bow
Wow was chosen as the current host for BET’s 106 & Park after former host Terrence J & Rocsi
retired from the show, it can be seen in over 85 million homes in the U.S., Canada, Japan,
United Kingdom, Africa, the Caribbean, Germany and South Africa.
Legal issues On March 28, 2012 it was announced Bow Wow
was ordered by court to pay $3,000 a month in child support.
On October 2, 2012, Bow Wow claimed he was broke and only making $4,000 dollars a month
and only had $1,500 in his checking account.
However the next day he signed on to be one of the four new co-hosts of BET's 106 & Park.
Later on he would address this by saying;
"One thing about me, I'm a smart guy.
Very smart.
Things that I do, are for reasons.
Things that I don't do are for reasons.
So for myself, I'm comfortable, very comfortable.
For me, it's all about the work.
But as far as rumors, those are people's opinions -- until you see me on a corner with a cardboard
box saying I'll tap dance for food for canned goods, then you can say that [I'm broke]."
Personal life His family supported him through his choice
of music as a career.
Bow Wow now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, along with his mother, who previously owned a clothing
store in the Atlantic Station area of Atlanta, named "Taste".
On July 7, 2011, Bow Wow revealed that he does have a child, he had kept it a secret
to keep this part of his life private.
Bow Wow revealed that the baby was a girl, and her name is Shai.
Bow Wow also revealed that Shai was born in April 2011 and that the mother was former
girlfriend Joie Chavis.
Shai currently lives with her mother but does have a relationship with her father.
Discography
Beware of Dog Doggy Bag
Unleashed Wanted
The Price of Fame New Jack City II
Underrated Filmography
Awards and nominations BET Awards
2001, Viewer's Choice "Bow Wow" 2006, Best Collaboration "Like You"
2007, Viewer's Choice "Shortie Like Mine" Billboard Music Awards
2001, Rap Single of the Year "Bow Wow" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
2004, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles – Sales "Let's Get Down"
2006, Hot Rap Track "Like You" Black Reel Awards
2003, Best Breakthrough Performance – Viewer's Choice: Like Mike
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2006, Best Collaboration "Let Me Hold You"
NAACP Image Awards 2008, Outstanding Duo or Group
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2001, Favorite Male Singer
2006, Favorite Male Singer 2008, Favorite Male Singer
Soul Train Music Awards 2001, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "Bounce
with Me" Teen Choice Awards
2007, Choice Music: Male Artist 2008, Choice Music: R&B Track "Hey Baby"
2009, Choice Music: Rap Artist Vibe Awards
2005, Coolest Collabo "Like You" Young Artist Awards
2003, Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor: Like Mike
References
External links Bow Wow on Twitter
Bow Wow on Myspace Bow Wow's channel on YouTube
Bow Wow at MTV Bow Wow's channel on Ustream
Bow Wow at the Internet Movie Database