Life and career

1987-2001: Early life and Beware of Dog

Bow Wow was born Shad Gregory Moss in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Teresa Rena Caldwell (née Jones) and Alfonso Preston 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, "Lil' Bow Wow".

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 (That's My Name)" 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.

2002: Doggy Bag, Like Mike 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. All these Lil' rappers, I'm just kind of getting real irritated by it. I said, 'You know what? Drop the Lil'. Forget it. I'm Bow Wow. Besides, I'm growing up, I'm not little anymore. two weeks ago. I really got irritable. It's all these Lil' cats, forget it. I'm Bow Wow now. Everything is just 'Bow Wow,' no 'Lil' Bow Wow.'"

2003-06: Unleashed, Wanted and The Price of Fame

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 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. 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.

2007-09: Face Off and New Jack City II

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)". 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.

2010-present: Underrated

Bow Wow's next album Underrated will be released on Cash Money Records. 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 entitled "Right Now". It was announced that Universal Republic Records was going defunct, all of the artists on the roster moved from the label including (Bow Wow) 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 till 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 an EP album and movie bio based on his life. On June 24, 2014, Bow Wow announced via Instagram that after 2014 BET Awards, he was going to by his real name Shad Moss, claiming that he made a lot of history as Bow Wow, and that it was now time for "the next chapter and challenge". He stated that "Bow Wow" no longer fit with his new personality as he was now a father, host and actor, and he had matured from what he had been early on his life.

As of May 2015, with his long delayed album with Cash Money still without a release date, Bow Wow announced that he had amicably parted ways with Cash Money Records, so he may move on with his music career. He said, "I wanna dictate when my music come out. I'm tired of going to the studio to make records and then I listen to them. 'Cuz then they get old. Then when y'all ask for new music I don't wanna hear it 'cuz I've been listening to it for two or three months. I just can't be held up up by nobody. It's as simple as that. I got a daughter. I got a family I gotta provide for." On September 27, 2015, Bow Wow signed to Diddy's record label Bad Boy Records. He then named the members of his new management team and finished the post by writing, "Making money won't be the issue. Figuring out where to keep it all is another story!"

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 was part of the cast of the fifth season of HBO's Entourage, playing 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. In August 2014, Bow Wow announced that he would star in an upcoming CSI spinoff entitled CSI: Cyber.

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 ."

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 has a child, and had kept it a secret to keep this part of his life private. Bow Wow was formerly engaged to TV Personality and Urban Model, Erica Mena.

Discography

Main article: Bow Wow discography

• Beware of Dog (2000)
• Doggy Bag (2001)
• Unleashed (2003)
• Wanted (2005)
• The Price of Fame (2006)
• New Jack City II (2009)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Carmen: A Hip Hopera	Jalil	Supporting role
2002	All About the Benjamins	Kelly	Cameo
	Like Mike	Calvin Cambridge	Lead role
2004	Johnson Family Vacation	Divirnius James "D.J." Johnson	Lead role
2005	Roll Bounce	Xavier "X" Smith	Lead role
2006	The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift	Twinkie	Supporting role
2009	Hurricane Season	Gary Davis	Supporting role
2010	Lottery Ticket	Kevin Carson	Lead role
2011	Who Is Shad Moss?	Himself	Documentary
2011	Madeas Big Happy Family	Byron	Supporting role
2013	Scary Movie 5	Eric
2013	Allegiance	Specialist Chris Reyes
2015	Furious 7	Twinkie	Cameo

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	The Steve Harvey Show	Himself	Episode: "No Free Samples"
	Moesha	Ray	Episode: "That's My Mama"
2006	Smallville	Baern	Episode: "Fallout"
2008	Ugly Betty	Himself	Episode: "Zero Worship"
	Entourage	Charlie	Recurring role
2011	The Secret Life of the American Teenager	Dante	Episodes: "4-1-1", "Smokin Like a Virgin"
2012-14	106 & Park	Himself	Host
2015	CSI: Cyber	Brody "Baby Face" Nelson	Series regular (credited as Shad Moss)

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

• 2001, Viewer's Choice "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" (Won)
• 2006, Best Collaboration "Like You" (Nominated)
• 2007, Viewer's Choice "Shortie Like Mine" (Nominated)

Billboard Music Awards

• 2001, Rap Single of the Year "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" (Won)

Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

• 2004, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - Sales "Let's Get Down" (Nominated)
• 2006, Hot Rap Track "Like You" (Nominated)

Black Reel Awards

• 2003, Best Breakthrough Performance - Viewer's Choice: Like Mike (Nominated)

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

• 2006, Best Collaboration "Let Me Hold You" (Nominated)

NAACP Image Awards

• 2008, Outstanding Duo or Group (Nominated)

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards

• 2001, Favorite Male Singer (Won)
• 2006, Favorite Male Singer (Nominated)
• 2008, Favorite Male Singer (Nominated)

Soul Train Music Awards

• 2001, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "Bounce with Me" (Nominated)

Teen Choice Awards

• 2007, Choice Music: Male Artist (Nominated)
• 2008, Choice Music: R&B Track "Hey Baby (Jump Off)" (Nominated)
• 2009, Choice Music: Rap Artist (Nominated)

Vibe Awards

• 2005, Coolest Collabo "Like You" (Nominated)

Young Artist Awards

• 2003, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor: Like Mike (Nominated)

Charities

Bow Wow supports the following charitable cause: AIDS.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]