 Not only is Bow Wow turning 20 years old in March 2007, the artist listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest solo rapper to hit No. 1 will drop his fifth studio album, The Price of Fame, December 19.
A bonafide veteran in an industry that chews up young rappers and spits them out daily, the multi-platinum teen rap star has managed to survive, and grow in popularity.
But as the title of his upcoming tell all set suggests, the road hasn't been easy.
"People ask for this life but they don't really understand what comes with it," the rapper whose real name is Shad Gregory Moss reveals. "People just see the outside and that looks good – big houses, cars, girls, but you never see how the person is feeling deep down inside. There's a lot of pressure. I'm a real guy, and trying to hold all of this in one brain can make you go crazy sometimes. So that's really been the price of fame for me, just dealing with all the drama and the b.s."
Now that he can express himself the way he wants, Bow wants fans to know he's got more to offer than just being a heart-throb.
"Now that I'm older, there are things that I can talk about," said Bow. "Finally I've gotten the green light to talk about what I've wanted to talk about for so many years. It's definitely a real rap album. I've stepped up lyrically. I want to become known as more of a lyricist, I want to prove I am more than a heart-throb.”
Fresh from the SRO Scream IV Tour and starring in "Roll Bounce" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," Bow teamed up with mentor/co-manager Jermaine Dupri to co-executive produce the new set which features the lead single "Shortie Like Mine," featuring Chris Brown and written by Johnta Austin.
The album also features 13 year-old Young Jinsu and 18 year-old Clee-O, up-and-coming rappers that Bow's signed to his The LB Dub Gang label.
"I'm passing the Lil Bow Wow torch to Jinsu," Bow added. "Jermaine has blessed me with the ability to do what I do and he's given me my shot into the industry. So now it's my turn to give blessings back to other people that also have the opportunity to do bigger and better things. It's only right to push your people forward."
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