Biography

Bow Wow was born in Akron, Ohio to Teresa and Junie Moss. Junie left the family and his mother worked three jobs to care for him. Teresa later married Rodney Caldwell, and Bow Wow has a half brother Reginald Washington two step-siblings, Jonnaie and Jasarah. Bow Wow was raised, and attended school, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a small city in the Columbus metropolitan area, until his rap career took off.

At age five, he started his career in rap using the moniker "Kid Gangsta". One year later, in 1993, he performed at a Chronic tour in Columbus, and was noted by rapper Snoop Dogg and rapper Dr. Dre, who subsequently gave him a stage name, "Lil' Bow Wow". Dr. Dre later hired him as an opening act, officially gaining him a spot on the Death Row Records roster.. "Lil' Bow Wow" then appeared on a skit on Snoop's debut Doggystyle.

In 1998 at the age of eleven, Bow Wow was introduced to record producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped shape his career.

Beware of Dog

At the age of 13, he released his debut album, Beware of Dog. It features Snoop Dogg, Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri, Xscape, Da Brat, & many more. It spawned the singles, "Bounce With Me", "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" featuring Snoop Dogg, "Puppy Love" with Jagged Edge, & Ghetto Girls". It was certified triple platinum and debuted at #8.

Doggy Bag

In 2001, he released his second album, Doggy Bag. It spawned the singles, "Take Ya Home" with Jagged Edge, and "Thank You". It went certified double platinum. Guest appearances include Xscape, Jagged Edge, Da Brat, and more.

Unleashed

In 2003, he released his third album, Unleashed. He wanted to drop the "Lil" out of his name and called himself, "Bow Wow". The first single off the album was "Let's Get Down", featuring Baby[Bird Man], the founder of Cash Money Records. This single became a success. Then he released his second single, "My Baby", featuring Jagged Edge. Unlike his previous albums, he doesn't feature the mentorship of Jermaine Dupri. This album only went gold. Guest appearances include Jagged Edge, Baby, Mario, & Amerie.

Wanted

In 2005, Bow Wow released his fourth album, Wanted. The first single was "Let Me Hold You", featuring Omarion. This song became a hit. Then Bow Wow released his second single, "Like You", featuring Ciara. After the single release, Bow Wow and Ciara began dating, but after a few months, they broke up. Then he released his third single, "Fresh Azimiz", which features J-Kwon & Jermaine Dupri. The album was certified double platinum. Guest appearances include J-Kwon, Jermaine Dupri, Omarion, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, & T. Waters.

The Price of Fame

In 2006, Bow Wow released his fifth album, The Price of Fame. Like Busta Rhymes & Ludacris, Bow Wow shaved off his cornrows for a new look. His first single was "Shortie Like Mine", featuring Chris Brown. This became a hit. Then there was a conflict between choosing a second single. He wanted "I'm a Flirt" to be the single, but at the last minute changed it to "Outta My System", featuring T-Pain, which became a success. R. Kelly then used the song and created a remix which features T.I. & T-Pain and made this his debut single for his album Double Up. This reached #12 on the billboard chart and Bow Wow shared credit. This went platinum only. Guest appearances include Chris Brown, T-Pain, Lil Scrappy, Lil Wayne, Short Dawg, Pimp C, Da Brat, R. Kelly, & Khleo Thomas.

Film career

Bow Wow has had guest appearances on Brandy's TV sitcom, Moesha as well as The Steve Harvey Show. He made his major acting debut in the film Like Mike which was released on July 3, 2002, where he starred as a young orphan who gets a shot at the NBA. Before Like Mike he made a cameo in All About The Benjamins as Kelly and in "Carmen: A Hip Hopera." He 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 and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, released on June 16, 2006. Bow Wow was a guest star on the television show Smallville in November 2006 in the episode entitled "Fallout."

Philanthropy

Bow Wow along with other recording artists such as P!nk , Avril Lavigne, Eve, Kelly Rowland, ex-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro join actresses Brittany Murphy, Charlize Theron, Rosario Dawson and Eva Mendes in ads for "empowerment tag" for the ALDO Fights AIDS campaign. The tags, worn as necklaces or bracelets, go on sale at ALDO stores March 1st and benefit the YouthAIDS initiative.

Endorsements and projects

• Bow Wow has appeared in commercials for (BET) Wrap it up, Twix, Chewits Campbells, and Verbs.

• He currently owns his own record label called LBW Entertainment, which is said in records produced after his Wanted album as, "LB DUB GANG". Such records include "Price of Fame", and "Get It In" on his recent 2006 album. Rappers Miss Nana from Newark, NJ and Khleo Thomas are currently signed to this label.

Discography

• 2000: Beware of Dog
• 2001: Doggy Bag
• 2003: Unleashed
• 2005: Wanted
• 2006: The Price of Fame
• 2007: Face Off (with Omarion)
• 2008: Prince of Hip Hop

Solo singles

• 1999: "Bounce With Me" (featuring Xscape)
• 1999: "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
• 2000: "Puppy Love" (featuring Jagged Edge)
• 2001: "Ghetto Girls"
• 2002: "Thank You" (featuring Jagged Edge)
• 2002: "Take Ya Home"
• 2002: "Basketball" (featuring Fabolous & Jermaine Dupri)
• 2003: "Let's Get Down" (featuring Birdman)
• 2003: "My Baby" (featuring Jagged Edge)
• 2005: "Let Me Hold You" (featuring Omarion)
• 2005: "Like You" (featuring Ciara)
• 2005: "Fresh Azimiz" (featuring J-Kwon & Jermaine Dupri)
• 2006: "Shortie Like Mine" (featuring Chris Brown)
• 2007: "Outta My System" (featuring T-Pain)
• 2007: "I'm a Flirt" (featuring R. Kelly)
• 2007: "Girlfriend" (with Omarion)

Featured Singles

• 2000: "Jumpin' Jumpin' [So So Def Remix]" (Destiny's Child featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow)
• 2001: "Where the Party At [Remix]" (Jagged Edge featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, ROC, Tigah, & Bow Wow)
• 2004: "Baby It's You [Remix]" (Jojo featuring Bow Wow)
• 2005: "I Think They Like Me [Remix]" (Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, & Bow Wow)
• 2006: "Side 2 Side [Remix]" (Three 6 Mafia featuring Bow Wow & Project Pat)
• 2007: "Easy [Remix]" (Paula DeAnda featuring Bow Wow)
• 2007: "Lil L.O.V.E." (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony featuring Mariah Carey & Bow Wow)
• 2007: "Hydrolics" (B5 featuring Bow Wow)

Filmography

• 2002: Like Mike (as Calvin Cambridge)
• 2004: Johnson Family Vacation (as D.J. Johnson)
• 2005: Roll Bounce (as Xavier "X")
• 2006: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (as Twinkie)
• 2008: 96 Minutes - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
• 2008: Mr. Prez - ( Source Material / / Announced / )
• 2009: The Hardest Game - ( / / Announced / )

Guest appearances

• 2001: Carmen: A Hip Hopera
• 2002: All about the Benjamins
• 2006: Smallville episode Fallout