Music Review: Bow Wow

AP, Dec 18, 2006 3:58 pm PST
Bow Wow, "The Price of Fame" (Columbia): Ex-kiddie rapper Bow Wow opens his fifth album explaining how he's dealt with fame's high price. Granted, the Ohio rapper's much-publicized break-up with R&B hottie Ciara probably hurt even more when Internet rumors alleged the relationship was merely staged to make him appear manlier. But being blog fodder is about as rough it gets for Bow Wow, the 20-year-old MC who's spent most of his formative years in a child star bubble. Any angst comes from his girl drama, not street drama.

On the bland "The Price of Fame," he gets all heartachy-breaky twice — on the bouncy, reconciliation attempt "Tell Me" and the slow-burning "Outta My System" featuring T-Pain's vocoderized croon. The latter sees Bow Wow rhyming to guess who: "You still running through my mind when I'm knowing that you shouldn't be."

Yet wallowing in the emo muck isn't wise strategy for someone who's trying to become a credible adult MC. Hence Bow Wow spends the bulk of the disc tossing off empty boasts about his wealth ("If I stood on my wallet, I'd be bigger than Shaq") and his young heartthrob appeal ("Ladies on the homie like I'm Denzel/ Shirt off, big chain-rocking like I'm LL").

The production, handled mainly by Bow Wow's mentor Jermaine Dupri, is often as tired as his lines. The strident, piano-driven "Give It To You" recalls a hard-bumping G-Unit throwaway beat while the serpentine synths of "Don't Know Bout That" is cookie-cutter snap music. Such missteps are curious signs that as Bow Wow grows older, he's not getting much wiser.

More Artist News

Bow Wow making music with Lil Wayne's Cash Money

Aug 17, 2009 3:00 pm PDT

Young rapper Bow Wow is officially out of retirement. After announcing his departure from the music game to focus on his acting career earlier this year, the 22-year-old sent out a Twitter message that he has joined Cash Money Records'...

Bow Wow talks new CD, acting and growing up

Apr 13, 2009 7:00 am PDT

If there were any doubts that Bow Wow is all grown up, his new CD — which comes with a parental advisory sticker — will drive the point home. The 22-year-old rapper says "New Jack City II" shows his growth, from the amount of co...

Rapper Bow Wow kicks off voter registration tour

Oct 1, 2008 1:00 pm PDT

Bow Wow once thought that politics was only for "old folks," but the 21-year-old platinum-selling rapper said he's had a change of heart and wants other young people to vote. "I used to think going to the mall and hollering at girls (was)...

Sony Music Can't Stop Master P And Lil' Romeo

May 4, 2006 5:00 pm PDT

Hip-hop mogul Master P says that Sony Music executives are trying to keep Romeo's "U Can't Shine Like Me" from getting played on radio. The song which responds to Bow Wow's "Fresh Azimiz" began playing on Los Angeles radio station KKBT in...

Spokeswoman: Bow Wow & Ciara Split

Apr 10, 2006 10:00 am PDT

Bow Wow and Ciara have split, a spokeswoman for Ciara has confirmed. The young celebrity couple had dated for nearly a year. "I cannot comment on the reason, but can confirm that Ciara and Bow Wow have split," said Tracy Nguyen in a state...

Photos

Loading...
View All Photos »

Videos

1-6 of 28 videos
Prev | Next
View All Videos »