Bow Wow

About Bow Wow

Shad Moss became a household name before he could legally drive, which is both impressive and slightly concerning when you think about it too hard. Born in Columbus, Ohio in 1987, he caught Snoop Dogg's attention at age six during a concert in his hometown. Snoop gave him the stage name Lil' Bow Wow and brought him into the industry as something between a protégé and a novelty act. His first appearance on Snoop's "Gz and Hustlas" was basically a proof of concept that a kid could actually rap without being completely embarrassing.

Jermaine Dupri signed him to So So Def when he was still in middle school, and "Beware of Dog" dropped in 2000 when Bow Wow was thirteen. The album went double platinum because "Bounce with Me" and "Bow Wow (That's Me)" were legitimately catchy, even if the whole thing was clearly designed by adults who understood the pre-teen market. It's the kind of early 2000s production that sounds dated now but worked perfectly at the time. "Doggy Bag" followed in 2001 with similar success, though by then the formula was becoming obvious.

The transition from child rapper to actual artist is where things got interesting. He dropped the "Lil'" from his name in 2003 with "Unleashed," trying to signal he was growing up. "Let Me Hold You" with Omarion became his biggest hit, doing that mid-2000s R&B-rap hybrid thing that dominated radio. "Wanted" in 2005 and "The Price of Fame" in 2006 showed him attempting to mature his sound, with varying degrees of success. "Like You" with Ciara and "Shortie like Mine" with Chris Brown kept him on the charts, but there was always this tension between the kid-friendly image and trying to be taken seriously as an adult rapper.

"New Jack City II" in 2009 was his last album with major label backing, and by then the momentum had shifted. He'd released "Face Off" with Omarion in 2007, which felt more like a side project than a statement. His 2013 mixtape "Underrated" was fine but didn't reverse the trajectory.

These days Bow Wow's more visible as an actor and media personality than as a recording artist. He's been on "Growing Up Hip Hop" and made headlines for things that have nothing to do with music. He still performs the old hits at nostalgia-driven shows, and there's an audience for that. His career is a case study in child stardom in hip-hop, complete with all the complications that come with growing up in public while trying to maintain relevance in a genre that moves fast and doesn't wait for anyone.

His crowds are mostly people who grew up with him, there for nostalgia more than anything. Shows feel like a victory lap through the 2000s. Decent energy but nothing particularly memorable happens. He gets the hits out and calls it a night.

Known for Bow Wow (That's Me), Puppy Love, Freshman, Let Me Hold You, Outta My System

See Bow Wow Live