Shad Moss is the real name of a known American rapper, TV host and a popular actor named Bow Wow. He is also known as Lil’ Bow Wow.
Early years
He was born as Shad Gregory Moss on March 9, 1987 in a place called Columbus in the state of Ohio, United States. His mother is named Teresa Rena Caldwell and his father was Alfonso Preston Moss. He has one sister named Erica Caldwell.
He was just a little kid of four years when he started to rap out of fun and entertain his family on a daily basis with some of his new rhymes.
He was six years old when he started to rap out of the house, in the school and on the street. He called himself „Kid Gangsta“.
At this time he was a big fan of American hip hop group called „Niggaz with Attitudes“. He often rapped their rhymes and knew all their hits.
He was only six when he made a performance at a rap concert. His future mentor Snoop Dogg noticed him at this event and later gave him a name shich eventually became his stage name: „Lil’ Bow Wow“.
Career development
Five years later, in 1998, Shed was introduced to a record producer called JD (which is short for Jermaine Dupri). Jermaine was a known producer who produced hits for known starts as Usher, Kris Kross and Mariah Carey.
His first big chance for success came in 1999 when his producer JD managed to find him a place on a soundtrack for a hit film „Wild Wild West“. The song was called „The Stick Up“ and this western comedy with Will Smith and Kevin Kline was a bg success.
Since he started his career very early he left school to be homeschooled. Before leaving school he was a pupil at the Hannah J. Ashton Middle School and Reynoldsburg High School.
His first studio album was released in 2000, under his stage name Lil’ Bow Wow. It was named „Beware of Dog“ and it was released by So So Def Recordings. The album was featured by Shoop Dogg and Ghetto Girls. The single „Bow Wow (That’s My Name)“ was the one Bow Wow made alongside Snoop Dogg and it was the No.1 hit of this album.
Album gained a lot of good critics and was even certified as double paltinum which was an extraordinary success for a first album of such a young author.
In 2001 he won the BET Awards for Viewers Choice. He also won a Billboard Music Award the same year.
In 2001, he won the Nickleodeon Kid’s Choice Award as the Favorite Male Singer. His first acting debut was in a movie called “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” the same year. He acted Jalil.
In 2002, he has released another album titled „Doggy Bag“, featured by Jagged Edge.
His single from this album which was called „Basketball“ was the leading single of a comedy movie called „Like Mike“ in which Lil’ Bow Wow has the role. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and directed by John Schultz.
In 2002 Lil Bow Wow decided to drop the first word from his name:“Lil’“. He stated that there were to many Lil’s in the hip hop world.
In 2003, he has released his first album with a new name „Bow Wow“ and he named it „Unleashed“. He had a lot of guests on this album, including Birdman, Jagged Edge and Mario.
In 2005, he released an album again. This time it was named „Wanted“. One of the singles of this album was a collaboration with an American Singer Ciara, who became his darling. The song was named „Like You“. The album also contained a duo with the popular Omarian.
Bow Wow was featured on a song „I Think They Like Me“ by Dem Franchize Boyz. One year later, in 2006, he has released an album named „The Price of Fame“ and a hit single with guest appearance of Chris Brown. The song was „Shortie Like Mine“.
At this period, he broke up with Ciara, and made a song about it called „Outta My System“. The single featured T-Pain. This album was also certified gold.
In 2007, in winter, Bow Wow and Omarion finished their album they made together. It was named „Face Off“.
In 2009 he has released his new album, sixth in the row, and he named the album „New Jack City II“.
This album which was released when he was 22, included a Parental Advisory label which ment that it wasn’t suited for younger children.
The same year, Bow Wow signed a record deal with Cash Money Records, a record label owned by Birdman and his brother Slim.
It took him a few years to release his new album, which came out in 2012 titled „Better“. But before he released it, he released a promo single in 2010 named „Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You“, made in collaboration with Chris Brown again.
At the end of the year his label Universal Republic Records transferred to a new label „Republic Records“.
In 2014, Bow Wow announced that he will no longer be Bow Wow but he will take his real name Shad Moss. He stated that he is a father now and taht he need to open a new chapter in life.
In 2015 he left his record label and he signed to „Bad Boy Records“ owned by Puff Daddy.
In 2016 he stated that he will release his last album before retirement in 2017 an it will be named „NYLTH“.
In 2016, he did release something but it was a mixtape made with Soulja Boy. It was named „Ignorant Shit“.
His first acting appearance was in 2002 in „Like Mike“. He had a few cameo appearances in series like „All About The Benjamins“ and „Johnson Family Vacation“.
His movie „Like Mike“ was a big success so he gained a few bigger roles. He starred in „the Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift“m and he was casted in „Ugly Betty“ and „Smallville“.
He also had a role in an American comedy TV series which aired on HBO called „Entourage“.
In 2010 he starred alongside Ice Cube in a comedy movie named „Lottery Ticket“ which was directed by Erik White.
In 2013 he became the host of „1068 Park“ video show which broadcasted on BET television.
In 2016 he became a DJ on Hit Network radio station.
He acted in some commercials too, such as the one for Twix.
Personal life
Shad Moss lives with his mother in Atlanta and has a daughter named Shai Moss with Joie Chavis but they are not in a relationship anymore. He is paying child support to Joie.
He had many nicknames: Bow Weezy, Bow Wizzle and L B Dub are some of them.
He was also in a relationship with a reality TV star and a model Erica Meno, with whom he was engaged.
In 2016 he started dating Kiyomi „Yummy“ Leslie.
Kuyshia Cole in 2016 was a singer he also dated before Kiyomi. He had a lot of relationships in his past but they weren’t very long.
From 2009-2010 he has been seen dating Teairra Marri.
In 2008 he was seen going out with both Karrine Stefans and Melody Thornton.
Delicia Bryant was his girlfriend one year earlier, in 2007.
It was the same year that he was dating Kim Kardashian, an American superstar.
Before Kim he also dated Ester Baxter and Jhene Aiko Chilombo.
One of his most important girlfriend was Ciara, a known singer and a dancer whom he dated for two years. Their relationship ended in 2006 because Bow was unfaithful to her. She starred in the video for his song named “Like You”, filmed in 2004.
He likes fast cars and his favorite are his orange and black Lamborghini’s, one is Murcielago and the other one is Gallardo. He also drives Range Rover Sports Supercharge, Bentley Continental GT and Porsche 911 Turbo.
He is also the owner of “Sugarloaf Country Club”. Shad is a big fan of Italian food. His favorite sports are swimming and basketball. Bow Wow is the owner of his own clothing line called “Shago”.
Shad is the only hip hop artist to be found in the Guinness Book of World Records. He is the youngest rapper with a single in No.1 place with his hit “Bounce with Me.”
Quick summary
Full name: Shad Gregory Moss
Date of birth: March 9, 1987
Birthplace: Ohio, Colorado
Age: 31
Profession: rapper, actor, TV host
Height: 170 cm
Weight: NA
Net Worth: $1,5 million
