Shad Gregory Moss (born March 9, 1987) is an American rapper and actor. Bow Wow was born in Columbus, Ohio. At age three, he became interested in music. 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, “Bow Wow”.
Dr. Dre signed Bow Wow to Death Row Records. Lil’ Bow Wow then appeared on a skit on Snoop’s debut Doggystyle, and on his music video of “Gin and Juice”.
He released his debut album Beware of Dog at age 13, then under the stage name Lil’ Bow Wow, which he carried until his 2003 album Unleashed, under simply Bow Wow. Three more albums followed, Wanted in 2005, The Price of Fame in 2006 and New Jack City II in 2009. In 2007, he released the collaboration album Face Off with Omarion.
Bow Wow made his acting debut in the film Like Mike in 2002. He later appeared in the films Roll Bounce (2005) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). On television, he also is in the cast of Entourage.
