Bow Wow (born Shad Gregory Moss on March 9, 1987 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio), is an African-American rapper. He released his first album, Beware of Dog, under the alias Lil Bow Wow at the age of thirteen and became a successful recording artist, under the mentorship of record producer Jermaine Dupri. He eventually broke out on his own in 2003 with the album Unleashed, which was his first without Dupri's mentorship.



Biography

Moss was raised, along with his stepsister Erica, by his mother and her husband. When Moss was five, he started his career in rap using the moniker Kid Gangsta. One year later, he took front stage during the Chronic tour and impressed rapper Snoop Dogg who would later give Moss his first professional alias, "Lil' Bow Wow". Snoop later hired him as an opening act, officially gaining him a spot on the Death Row Records roster, and introduced him to Jermaine Dupri, a producer who helped shape Moss' career.

After the success of his 2000 debut album, Beware of Dog, He released 2001's Doggy Bag, which contained songs such as "Thank You" and "Take You Home".

In addition to his own albums, Bow Wow has contributed to Will Smith's album, Wild Wild West, which was named after the movie which also stars Smith, and had a guest appearance on Brandy's TV sitcom, Moesha. He made his acting debut in Like Mike, where he acted as a young orphan who gets a shot at the NBA. He is also a good friend of basketball star Allen Iverson. Another good friend of his is singer Omarion.

He is currently in a feud with Lil' Romeo. Bow Wow supposedly insulted Romeo in his song "Fresh Azimiz", and Romeo reacted to the song ("U Can't Shine Like Me").

Bow is in the studio working on his fifth studio album with Jermaine Dupri right now and expects the project to be out in early October. Bow Wow's manager said the album will be even more mature than his last album. The first single is due out mid-summer and is to feature Chris Brown.

Punk'd

Bow Wow became the 2nd victim and the 1st star ever to appear on Punk'd more than twice. First appearance was when he was tricked by Ashton Kutcher for losing some borrowed jewelry. His second is when Bow Wow invited his friend Omarion to the party where Omarion is falsely believed that he was having sex with a girl.

Trivia

Has dated R&B singer Ciara until early 2006.

He was on various commercials such as Twix, Campbells, and Verbs.

He has participated in every Scream Tour except for I, he was the opening act.

While recording his first album, Bow Wow was once banned from the studio by Jermaine Dupri for misbehaving.

He has starred in 3 movies and stars in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which is to debut June 16, 2006.

At the beginning of his career, by way of Snoop Dogg, Lil' Bow Wow was first apart of the Death Row Records artist roster , with his name appearing in various magazine and poster advertisements for the label.

Bow Wow performed live with Chris Brown at the 2006 Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon.

Appears on up and coming rapper Miss Nana's album I Got The Hood, Volume 1 as a host.