Did you type how old is bow wow into Google and still get lost in a sea of songs, albums, and film roles? You know him as Lil’ Bow Wow. You have clicked on Beware of Dog and Bounce with Me, but his true age stays hidden.
Here is one fact. Shad Moss was born on March 9, 1987, so he just turned 38. This post will chart his rise from Kid Gangsta to hip hop star with Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri. You will meet his hits like Bounce with Me and Beware of Dog.
You will look at his film roles in All About the Benjamins and Like Mike, and his TV turn on CSI: Cyber and 106 & Park. Let’s go!
Key Takeaways
- Shad Moss was born on March 9, 1987 in Columbus, Ohio, and he turned 38 this year.
- He signed with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings at age 13 after Snoop Dogg gave him the name Lil’ Bow Wow.
- His 2000 debut album, Beware of Dog, went double platinum and made him the youngest rapper with a No. 1 rap single, “Bounce with Me.”
- He dropped the “Lil’” tag as Bow Wow, starred in 2002 films Like Mike and All About the Benjamins, and co-hosted BET’s 106 & Park.
- He has one daughter, Shai Moss (born 2011), began paying court-ordered child support in 2012, and shares family updates on social media.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Shad Gregory Moss grew up in an Atlanta neighborhood, chasing beats on street corners and dropping rhymes at block parties. Producer Jermaine Dupri heard his demo tape, signed him to record label So So Def, and pushed Lil’ Bow Wow into recording studio sessions, mic in hand.
What was Bow Wow’s childhood like?
Born as Shad Gregory Moss on March 9, 1987 in Columbus, Ohio. Parents Teresa Rena Jones and Alfonso Preston Moss raised him. He grabbed a microphone at age three. Family gatherings and beauty salons became his first stages.
Jermaine Dupri spotted him onstage. Snoop Dogg christened him Lil’ Bow Wow. So So Def Recordings signed him at age 13. He rose fast.
How did Bow Wow rise to fame as “Lil’ Bow Wow”?
Shad Gregory Moss wowed crowds as a nine year old on The Chronic Tour in 1996. He caught the eye of Snoop Dogg, who renamed him Lil’ Bow Wow. Snoop hired Moss as an opening act. The rapper sent the kid from Atlanta, Georgia, to stages nationwide.
That tour led to a meeting with Jermaine Dupri at So So Def Recordings. Dupri shaped Moss’s style and secured a deal with Columbia Records for the young rapper.
Breakthrough Years
He dropped his debut album in 2000. It shot up the chart and made him a star.
What made the debut album Beware of Dog successful?
Columbia Records and So So Def Recordings launched the debut album *Beware of Dog* in 2000. Jermaine Dupri offered crisp production and catchy hooks that spoke to kids and teens. His mentor, veteran rapper Snoop Dogg, gave him a nod, and that endorsement boosted his buzz.
The record went double platinum in months, powered by playful tracks and a hit like “Bounce With Me.” Fans heard him as Bow Wow for the first time, not Lil’ Bow Wow, and that fresh branding helped him stand out.
How did Bow Wow gain mainstream recognition?
Jermaine Dupri signed Bow Wow to So So Def at age twelve. He dropped his debut album Beware of Dog in 2000. His 2000 track “Bounce with Me” hit No.1 on rap charts and earned a Guinness Book record as the youngest rapper with a No.1 hit.
Fans saw Bow Wow on shows like Moesha and The Steve Harvey Show. Doggy Bag reached shelves in 2002 and went platinum with help from Snoop Dogg.
Name Change and Continued Success
Moss shed the Lil’ tag and rebranded as Bow Wow for a bold new chapter. He teamed with Jermaine Dupri at So So Def, released hit songs, and proved his switch struck gold.
Bow Wow’s transition from “Lil’ Bow Wow” to “Bow Wow”
Snoop Dogg heard a six-year-old Shad Gregory Moss freestyling in 1996 and dubbed him Lil’ Bow Wow. Jermaine Dupri saw that and signed him to So So Def Recordings at age eight. He released his debut studio project Beware of Dog with Columbia Records in 2000.
The title track climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and sold two million copies.
Moss dropped the Lil’ tag on that debut and embraced Bow Wow. Radio hosts and MTV welcomed the fresh moniker, and fans joined the ride. This tweak proved he had grown up fast. New branding matched a more mature performer.
Important albums and collaborations in Bow Wow’s career
Bow Wow released his debut album Beware of Dog in 2000. His producer crafted most of its tracks. The label and the company issued the record. The project topped charts like the Billboard Hot 100.
He followed up in 2002 with Doggy Bag.
Young Bow Wow teamed up with a guest artist on Bow Wow (That’s My Name). He scored a hit with Outta My System featuring Chris Brown. He added bounce to remixes with T-Pain. Each collaboration drove more eyes to his shows and streams.
Acting and Other Ventures
He led a kid crew in the movie Like Mike and locked horns with foes in All About the Benjamins. He then ruled the stage as host of BET’s 106 & Park and flexed his chops in the CSI: Cyber crime drama.
What are Bow Wow’s notable film and TV roles?
Bow Wow made his first big screen mark in 2002. He then moved into TV roles.
- All About The Benjamins (2002) gave Shad Moss his first film credit, he played a young thief alongside Ice Cube and Mike Epps.
- Like Mike (2002) cast him as Calvin, a kid who can slam dunk after he finds a magic pair of sneakers.
- Moesha let him show his acting chops in a 1990s sitcom, he starred as a street-smart teen in one installment.
- The Steve Harvey Show featured a lively cameo, he sparred with the comic on the WB network.
- CSI: Cyber hired him as Elijah Harris in 2015, he joined a tech team that solves cyber crimes on CBS.
- 106 & Park on BET chose him as co-host, he led music countdowns and live chats with top artists.
How did Bow Wow become the host of BET’s 106 & Park?
BET picked Shad Moss to host 106 & Park. Execs saw his hits like “Bounce With Me.” They loved his work with Jermaine Dupri at So So Def Recordings. He also shined in Like Mike.
That blend of rap and screen work sold him.
Moss brought fresh energy to live shows. He sparred with viewers on air, like a rapper trading bars. He worked with co-host Keshia Chanté. Fans linked his music fame with his hosting style.
He owned the stage.
Personal Life and Public Image
Bow Wow juggles fatherhood and headlines under the glare of fame. He shares family pics on Insta and talks about child support to spark fan chatter.
What is known about Bow Wow’s family and relationships?
He has one daughter, Shai Moss, born in 2011 with model Joie Chavis. She lives with her mom in Los Angeles. He calls her his world and shares photos on Instagram often.
He dated singer Ciara in 2005 and they split that same year. He got engaged to reality star Erica Mena in April 2015. They ended the engagement eight months later.
Bow Wow blasts out fresh posts on his photo app, microblogging site and video channel. He shares studio clips, tour updates, family snaps. Fans know him as Shad Moss on socials. He tweets witty lines and runs live sessions to hype a new track.
Those updates fuel chart runs and keep him close to the crowd.
A child support dispute hit his feed in 2016, when an ex sought back pay. He used photo app posts to clear the air and show court docs. His 2019 engagement to Erica Mena drew more heat.
He faced flak after the pair split weeks later. He turned to live video to answer fan questions, drop truth bombs and move on.
How many kids does Bow Wow have?
Shad Moss, known as bow wow, confirmed he had a child in 2011. Court records show he paid child support after a judge signed off in 2012.
Takeaways
Bow Wow has grown from a child star into a veteran rapper at 38. He climbed the song chart and claimed a spot in the record book. On screen, he shined on film and steered a hit music show.
His ride through rhythm and reels feels like a wild roller coaster.
FAQs
1. How old is Bow Wow?
Bow Wow, born Shad Gregory Moss in Atlanta, Georgia, is 36 years old. He first hit the charts as a teen star.
2. Who is Shad Moss and Lil’ Bow Wow?
Shad Gregory Moss is the man behind the stage name Bow Wow. He launched his career as Lil’ Bow Wow on So So Def Recordings with Jermaine Dupri and later joined Columbia Records.
3. What albums did he drop early on?
He dropped Beware of Dog in 2000. A year later he rolled out Doggy Bag. Both albums gave us Bounce With Me and Take Ya Home.
4. What are his biggest singles?
He scored on the Billboard Hot 100 with Bounce With Me. He followed up with Bow Wow (That’s My Name), Shortie Like Mine, and Let Me Hold You. He also rocked the Like Mike soundtrack.
5. Who has he teamed up with?
He’s shared the mic with Snoop Doggy Dogg, DJ Khaled, T.I., Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Meek Mill, and Soulja Boy. His collabs span rap icons old and new.
6. Who is Shai Moss?
Shai Moss is Bow Wow’s daughter with Erica Mena. He and Erica share child support duties while he keeps busy on and off stage.
