Bow Wow

Bow Wow started as a child heartthrob rapper and grew into a cunning, all-around entertainer. Born in 1987, Columbus, Ohio native Shad Moss found success in music very early: Snoop Dogg noticed him rapping at a concert at age six, gave him the name Lil' Bow Wow, and placed him on his classic 1993 album, Doggystyle, and in his video for "Gin and Juice." By age 11, Lil' Bow Wow was working with producer Jermaine Dupri, and they built a fruitful musical friendship with his first two albums, Beware of Dog and Doggy Bag. Bow’s charismatic raps and boyish charm, shining over Dupri's hit-making production, made him the object of much affection. His stardom blossomed on the road with his blockbuster Scream Tour alongside fellow child phenoms B2K, and he also landed his first major movie role in 2002's Like Mike, which also included his song "Basketball" on the soundtrack. He dropped the "Lil" from his name that year and briefly parted from Dupri for Unleashed before reuniting for 2005's Wanted, a record with two of his most effectively seductive singles, "Let Me Hold You" featuring Omarion and "Like You" with Ciara. Bow Wow's musical output slowed as his acting career took off in the 2010s, prompting the 2021 announcement of his final album, Before 30, a title inspired by his laundry list of accomplishments by the landmark age. He may hang up his mic, but Bow Wow will always command attention with his business savvy and versatile talent.