Okay it’s the weekend, time to write another 1500 words on…today’s topic: What happened to Lil Bow Wow?

Before we get to the end, we have to start at the beginning. Where was the beginning for Bow Wow? His song basketball:

I had no idea as a kid, but now that I see the intro credits, it had Jermaine Dupri and Fabolous as features and was released on So So Def.

Jermaine Dupri is the founder, owner, and president of So So Def Recordings. If you recall from our article about one hit wonders the importance of persistence, Jermaine Dupri was also  the mastermind behind the short-lived rap group Dem Franchise Boyz.

One of the reasons Jermaine Dupri might have that skillset, is because his father is Michael Mauldin, former Senior Vice President of Columbia Records Group.

In 1999, Michael Mauldin left Columbia Records to build his own companies, as well as work with his son Jermaine Dupri at So So Def.

To quote the same website:

In 1999, Mauldin left Columbia Records and moved back to Atlanta to work with his son at So So Def Recordings, and he founded the Artistic Control Group. The Artistic Control Group is a small Atlanta based entertainment firm which includes the Mauldin Brand Agency. The firm also has a music publishing component and a tour management division. In 2002, Mauldin was the executive producer for the film, Like Mike starring rapper Bow Wow. 

Michael Mauldin’s IMDB page shows the same:

Okay, so we’re starting to understand Bow Wow’s team when he got started. Having a team is important.

I don’t remember this one as a kid, but hey, maybe you good folks of the internet do:

Anyways, it shows him getting a call on his flip phone (so awesome) from Jermaine Dupri while he’s in class. It shows Bow Wow getting picked up from school by Jermaine Dupri in a BMW. So it’s no secret, JD is the mentor and Bow Wow is the student.

The song also has a feature on it from Snoop Dogg. And at the end of the video, both Bow Wow and Snoop Dogg, embracing their dog-related names, transfigure Harry Potter style into dogs. So, there’s that.

Here’s another song I don’t remember at all:

Clearly I was a bigger fan of Mike Jones than I was of Bow Wow. Alright I’m gonna start calling him by his real name now, which is Shad Moss.

Shad did have a song with Mike Jones called Fresh as I’m Iz. Wtf kind of grammar is that. Whatever.

Shad Moss, originally rapping under the nickname “Kid Gangsta”,  got his start in the music industry by being an opening act for Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg is the one who gave him his canine moniker of Lil Bow Wow.

Notice the prophetic language in that song:

Bow fall off n**** that’ll be never
I’m rich (yea I’m rich) I can do whatever

According to TMZ: In February 2008,  Shad Moss leased a 2004 Ferrari F430.

In February 2009, the leasing company sued him for failing to make payments and won. They were awarded a judgement for $218, 000.

In 2012, Shad Moss still hadn’t paid it off, not even close. It actually grew with interest the whole time, all the way to $283,000.

Another news TMZ news item from 2012 tells us:

SunTrust Bank filed the lawsuit against Bow Wow — real name Shad Moss — claiming he took out a $300,165 business loan, agreeing to 84 monthly payments of $4,730.
According to bank records filed with the lawsuit, Bow Wow fell behind last year. The docs show the bank repossessed the rapper’s Lamborghini Murcielago  — and managed to get $161,000.

You’d think that would be the end of it — but the bank tacked on more than $25,000 for “repossession expenses.”

According to the lawsuit, Bow Wow still owes the bank $21,371 — and the bank wants every penny.

But that’s way back in 2012.  I don’t want to dwell on financial stuff. Where is Bow Wow in 2017?

Let me go through his recent work first. He has put out 8 mixtapes since 2008.

Half Man, Half Dog Vol. 1 (November 2008)
Half Man, Half Dog Vol. 2 (February 2009)
The Green Light (August 2009)
The Green Light 2 (January 2010)
The Green Light 3 (October 2010)
The Green Light 4 (August 2011)
I’m Better Than You (September 2011)
The Green Light 5 (March 2013)

Okay. Where is Bow Wow in 2017?

On February 13th, 2017 Bow Wow published this on his Youtube channel:

It’s a preview for his next mixtape, The Green Light 6.

Oh, and a couple of years ago he landed a deal to have his own vodka brand, called NDI Vodka.

Wait can we go back a bunch of years again? I just found this song Bow Wow did with Yung Joc. I’ve never heard it before now, it’s called Big Girls.

Sorry about the potato video quality, haven’t found a legit copy anywhere online.

OK I’m not mad about that one. You can hear it on tape, at the 4:24 mark:

To hell with a skinny girl I need me a big girl!

This article started a little rough for him but I think he’s turning it around. If we can get away from the rapping and go towards his R&B work, like this song he did with Cash Money in 2011:

Yeah R&B is definitely his niche. Here’s another one from 2010 with Cash Money called Boyfriend For The Night:

Dang okay here’s another R&B song from 2009 called Break it Down:

Well I’m at 879 words we’re doing alright.

If we look at his raw youtube stats, his song Let Me Hold You with Omarion has 49 million views.

Shortie Like Mine  with Chris Brown has 31 million views.

Like You with Ciara has 51 million views:

 

You liked that R&B stuff right? Ok here are two of his recent rap songs (which I don’t like at all – maybe you do?)

And

I’m not a fan of the last two songs BUT the audio is definitely clean and well produced.

Soulja Boy has worked with a few key people that demonstrated he has a keen eye for talent. He worked with Riff Raff, actually signing him for a bit. He also did a mixtape with Lil B called Pretty Boy Millionaires. And Lil Yachty announced that he will be on the Pretty Boy Millionaires 2 mixtape with Lil B and Soulja.  So this Ignant Shit mixtape is a really good sign for Bow Wow.

It’s 2017. For entertainers of any kind, with all the platforms on the internet and tools available, it’s really up to Shad Moss himself if he wants to take advantage and put the hours in for 2017. But this mixtape with Soulja Boy called Ignant Shit is a really good sign. Plus we’re still waiting for Green Light 6 to come out?

OK I admit it, I like this song here. We’re gonna end it on this one:

Have fun out there,
-Moon Chimps Media

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