Bow Wow Biography: Shad Gregory Moss, born on March 9, 1987, and professionally known as Bow Wow (formerly Lil’ Bow Wow), is an American rapper and actor. His music career began in 1993 when he was discovered by Snoop Dogg at just six years old. By age 11, he signed with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings under Columbia Records. He made his debut as Lil’ Bow Wow with the album Beware of Dog in 2000 at age 13, followed by Doggy Bag in 2001—both of which achieved commercial success, reaching the top 15 of the Billboard 200 chart. Later, Moss moved on from So So Def, remaining with Columbia Records to release Unleashed in 2003, his first album under the name Bow Wow. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. His fourth studio album, Wanted (2005), produced his highest-charting singles.
Bow Wow Biography
Shad Gregory Moss was born on March 9, 1987, in Columbus, Ohio, to Teresa Rena (née Jones) and Alfonso Preston Moss. He began rapping at the young age of five under the name “Kid Gangsta.” At six, he gained significant attention while performing during “The Chronic Tour,” where he impressed Snoop Dogg. Snoop not only gave him the nickname “Lil’ Bow Wow” but also brought him on as an opening act and introduced him to producer Jermaine Dupri, who would go on to play a crucial role in launching his music career. Following the success of his double platinum debut album Beware of the Dog (2000), Bow Wow released Doggy Bag in 2002, which was also certified platinum. It was around this time that he officially adopted his stage name publicly. In addition to his music career, Bow Wow made appearances on TV shows like Moesha.
Bow Wow Biography 2025 Details
| Birth name | Shad Gregory Moss |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
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| Born | March 9, 1987 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Discography | Bow Wow discography |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels |
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| Children | 2 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
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About Bow Wow
Shad Gregory Moss, better known by his stage name Bow Wow, is an American rapper and actor. His career began upon being discovered by rapper Snoop Dogg in 1993 at the age of six; five years later, he signed with record producer Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings, an imprint of Columbia Records.
Bow Wow Wiki
- Born: 9 March 1987 (age 38 years), Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Record labels: So So Def Recordings, Death Row Records ·
- Full name: Shad Gregory Moss
- Parents: Teresa Caldwell, Alfonso Moss
- Siblings: Erica Caldwell
Early Life
Shad Gregory Moss, known professionally as Bow Wow, was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Teresa Rena Caldwell (née Jones) and Alfonso Preston Moss. He developed a passion for rap music at the age of three and began performing as “Kid Gangsta” by age six, already a fan of groups like N.W.A.
In 1993, after performing at a concert in Los Angeles, he caught the attention of rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, who gave him the stage name “Lil’ Bow Wow.” That same year, he appeared on Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle on the track “Gz and Hustlas” and also performed on The Arsenio Hall Show. He was featured in the “Gin and Juice” music video and had a recorded song titled “After 3” with Kurupt, Jewell, and CPO Boss Hogg for the Murder Was the Case soundtrack, though the track wasn’t released until years later.
Bow Wow Facts
Where does Bow Wow live? And how much money does Bow Wow earn?
| Birth Date | 9-3-1987 |
| Heritage/origin | American |
| Ethnicity | Other |
| Religion – believes in God? | Christian |
| Residence | He owns a house in Duluth, GA, USA. |
Bow Wow Net Worth 2025
| Estimated Net Worth | $1 million |
| Yearly Salary | N/A |
| Colleagues | Ciara, Omarion & Jonathan Lipnicki |
| Management | United Talent Agency |
Houses
- Photo: house/residence of friendly 30 million earning Duluth, GA, USA-resident
- Sugarloaf Country Club of Duluth, Georgia house ($0.95 million)(Swimming Pool • )
Cars
Lamborghini Murcielago
- Bow Wow Lamborghini Murcielago car
- Lamborghini Murcielago - ($151,100)
- Range Rover Sport SuperCharged - ($63,350-92,495)
- Lamborghini Gallardo - ($191,900)
- Bentley Continental GT - ($196,225)
- 911 Turbo - manufactured by Porsche ($85,295)
Bow Wow: Girlfriend, Dating, Family & Friends
| Relationship status | Dating (Since 2014) |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Current Girlfriend of Bow Wow | Ayisha Diaz |
| Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives | Kat Stacks, Joie Chavis, Simply Jess, Teairra Mari |
| Has any kids? | No |
Family
Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Alfonso Moss (Father)
- Teresa Caldwell (Mother)
- Erica Caldwell (Sister)
- Shai Moss (Daughter)
Friends
- Snoop Dogg
Skin, Hair & Eye Color
This friendly artist originating from Columbus, Ohio, USA has a slim body & oval face type. Bow Wow makes commercials for unknown, but actually uses: unknown.
| Hair color | Black |
| Hair type | Curly |
| Hair Length | very short hair |
| Hairstyle | crew cut |
| Distinct feature | hair |
| Skin Tone/Complexion | Type VI: Black brown skin |
| Skin Type | Normal |
| Beard or Mustache | Beardless |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Does Bow Wow smoke? | Yes, regularly |
Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos & Style
Bow Wow endorses clothing brands like Starbury. And wears brands like Louis Vuitton.
| Height | 170 cm |
| Weight | 64 kilo |
| Clothing style | casual |
| Favorite colors | black |
| Feet size | 10 |
| Biceps | 30.5 |
| Waist size | 76 |
| Buste size | 96.5 |
| Does Bow Wow have a tattoo? | YesPrince Of The O-Town” chest piece with two dollar signs on the sides |
FAQs
How did Bow Wow get discovered in the music industry?
Bow Wow was discovered by rapper Snoop Dogg at the age of six after performing during “The Chronic Tour.” Snoop gave him the stage name “Lil’ Bow Wow” and later introduced him to producer Jermaine Dupri.
What was Bow Wow’s debut album and how successful was it?
His debut album, Beware of the Dog (2000), was a major success, achieving double platinum status and launching him into mainstream fame as a young rapper.
When did Bow Wow transition from music to acting?
After gaining fame in music, Bow Wow began acting with guest appearances on shows like Moesha and The Steve Harvey Show, before making his film debut in All About the Benjamins (2002), followed by his first starring role in Like Mike.
Why did Bow Wow drop the “Lil'” from his stage name?
As he matured, Bow Wow dropped the “Lil'” from his stage name around the release of Like Mike to reflect his transition from a child star to a more adult performer.
Has Bow Wow spoken publicly about his personal life?
Yes, Bow Wow has been open about aspects of his personal life, including confirming in 2011 that he had a child and later facing public scrutiny over child support obligations.
Who was Bow Wow engaged to in 2015?
In 2015, Bow Wow got engaged to reality television star Erica Mena, which attracted significant media attention.