Bow Wow "Wanted"

What’s more annoying than child singers? Child rappers! The year was 2000 and the kid rapper was then thirteen year old Lil’ Bow Wow. No, that’s not a typo. Lil’ Bow Wow. Featuring guests such as Snoop Dog and million dollar production values, his debut album solidified him as a star. Not only was he on the wall of every 13 year old girl in the country, he was getting serious airplay on radio and some serious attention on MTV. Fast forward five years. He’s now 18 and has long since dropped the lil’ from his name, going as Bow Wow instead. After trying his hand at acting and appearing in such blockbuster films as “Like Mike”, “Johnson Family Vacation”, and “All About The Benjamin’s”, Bow Wow is back with a new rap album.

I’m on my fourth listen through of Wanted, the new Bow Wow album, and I hate to say it, but it’s not bad. It’s actually not bad at all. As far as rap albums go, it’s actually above average. Long gone are his raps about acting up in class, passing notes in home room, and skipping out on detention. Bow Wow has had an interesting five years since his debut album and it shines through in his lyrical content. From seeing NBA bound friends getting gunned down to crack head aid’s infected uncles, Bow Wow shows real growth and intelligence in how he approaches all the lyrics on the album. That’s not to say there’s not some youthful enthusiasm here. Bow Wow is still very much a young man who wants to party and catch the eye of pretty ladies.

The million dollar production values from his earlier albums are still here, as are the guest appearances by Snoop Dog and other famous hip hop stars. But this time it’s not just a gimmick. Bow Wow shows that he wasn’t just a fad and displays some respectable rhyme skills here. If he can continue to grow and evolve as an artist, and not get too distracted with the filming of “Like Mike 2: More Like Mike”, then he just may turn out to be one of rap’s top superstars.

Four out of Five Stars

Music Review Index