The Irrelevancy of Bow Wow and Why It Doesn’t Mean Anything

So who is Shad Moss?

Back in 2014, days prior to the BET Awards, Bow Wow took to Instagram to say, ‘After BET Awards I will no longer go by Bow Wow! I’m going by my real name “Shad Moss.” We made a lot of history as Bow Wow, now it’s time for the next chapter and challenge. Bow Wow does not fit who I am today. I’m a father, business man, TV host, actor, and rapper! Time for Mr. Moss to take over!‘

When we see these negative tweets about how irrelevant Shad Moss is as an artist, and then we see him speak in some of these interviews about how he wants to focus more on acting and comedy, we can becomes extremely understanding as of why he maneuvered to a different career path. It’s not only common in the rap game that a rapper ventures off to acting, but at the same time when you’re five years old and you’ll spend the majority of your life rapping, what are the chances that you’ll decide to do some other s**t with your life? We’ve seen other rappers like Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah transition from spitting bars to reading movie scripts, so why is it an issue when Bow Wow (who started his rapping career at such a very young age) decides to take on movie roles as well? He’s labeled as ‘irrelevant’ by many because they assume he flopped as a rapper, when in reality he’s irrelevant because he chose to be. Again, he’s been in the game for over 20 years so now it’s like, ‘what’s next for me, what is it that I’m truly passionate about, do I want to do this music s**t for another twenty years?’

‘My whole life I hated rapping,’ he stated on Twitter on May 5. ‘Folks don’t know that. I always wanted to be a comedian growing up. I wanted to act.’

We practically have known Shad Moss all of his life. At the age of three Moss (who was going by the name Kid Gangsta at the time) was already performing in talent shows in the Columbus, Ohio area. Then a few years later, at the age of six during The Chronic tour he met and performed alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre after being chosen from thousands of fans to come up on stage. After having met Snoop Dogg, Kid Gangsta didn’t only change his name to Lil’ Bow Wow, but he also began doing opening acts for Snoop Dogg during tours. Everything from there on out is history. From rapping on The Arsenio Hall Show, to trying to sneak into Tupac Shakur’s rapping booth, to meeting Jermaine Dupri, dropping hits back to back such as “Bounce with Me,” “Fresh Azimiz,” and “Like You.” To even starring in films such as Like Mike, Roll Bounce, Hurricane Season, and Lottery Ticket.

‘Til this day many fans are still wondering, will we be hearing more music from Shad Moss anytime soon or is he really done making music?

‘I got songs. Tons. Just not really passionate about the game…Made money. Been rapping since I was five. New place now. I still got my deal. I do what I want. Label can’t force me. Paid my dues. I do it when I want. Now ain’t the time.’

Known as both irrelevant, and broke he continues to be successful in all his encounters.

He also has plans of starting up his own late night talk show soon, Up With Bow. And despite there not being an air date as of yet, he’s been showing his excitement for the show throughout social media. Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Kobe Bryant, and Michelle Obama are some ideas of guest appearances he plans to have on the show as well which is also very exciting.

‘First time people saw me on The Arsenio Hall Show. So it’s only right I go back to where I started. First let me thank him by paving the way because I wouldn’t have did what I’m about to do. I been quietly working on a project that I felt is needed. When I hosted 106 I had a little control and I got to be the man because I’m a creator. So when I can’t be a creative well… But I learned so much to the point where I will have my own late night show coming.’

It’s true what they say, everything does come around full circle.