Many fans of hip hop music have wondered if Lil Bow Wow and Snoop Dogg are related, since they share a similar stage name and rap style. The answer is no, they are not blood relatives, but they do have a close bond that goes back to the early 1990s. Here is the untold truth of Lil Bow Wow and his connection to Snoop Dogg.
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How Lil Bow Wow Met Snoop Dogg
Lil Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Gregory Moss, was born on March 9, 1987 in Columbus, Ohio. He became interested in rap music at the age of three, and started rapping under the moniker “Kid Gangsta” at the age of six. He was also a fan of N.W.A and Snoop Dogg at that age.
In 1993, when he was only 11 years old, Lil Bow Wow had a chance to meet his idol Snoop Dogg at a concert in Los Angeles. He was selected to go on stage and perform a freestyle rap, and his skills impressed Snoop Dogg so much that he gave him a stage name, “Lil’ Bow Wow”. He also invited him to appear on his album Doggystyle, on the track “Gz and Hustlas”, and on The Arsenio Hall Show. He also appeared in the “Gin and Juice” music video.
According to The Source, Snoop Dogg said that he saw himself in Lil Bow Wow, and wanted to mentor him and help him achieve his dreams. He said, “I wanted to give him an opportunity because I felt like he was me when I was younger.”
How Lil Bow Wow Became a Star
After meeting Snoop Dogg, Lil Bow Wow’s career took off. In 1998, he met record producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped shape his sound and image. In 2000, he released his debut album Beware of Dog under the label So So Def Recordings. The album was a success, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. It spawned the hit singles “Bounce with Me”, “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)” featuring Snoop Dogg, and “Puppy Love”.
Lil Bow Wow became a teen sensation, attracting millions of fans with his cute looks and catchy songs. He also ventured into acting, starring in movies like Like Mike, Johnson Family Vacation, Roll Bounce, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He also appeared in TV shows like Entourage and CSI: Cyber.
In 2003, he dropped the “Lil’” from his stage name, and released his third album Unleashed. He continued to release more albums, such as Wanted (2005), The Price of Fame (2006), New Jack City II (2009), Underrated (2012), and Greenlight 6 (2019). He also collaborated with other artists like Omarion, Ciara, Chris Brown, Soulja Boy, T-Pain, Tyga, and more.
How Lil Bow Wow and Snoop Dogg Stayed Close
Despite their different paths in the music industry, Lil Bow Wow and Snoop Dogg never lost touch with each other. They remained close friends and collaborators over the years. They performed together on several occasions, such as at the 2001 BET Awards, the 2005 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, and the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards.
They also supported each other through their personal and professional challenges. In 2018, Lil Bow Wow revealed that he had been struggling with addiction to lean (a mixture of cough syrup and soda) for years. He said that Snoop Dogg was one of the people who helped him overcome his substance abuse problem. He tweeted, “Im going to let something out. When me and Omarion worked on FACE OFF album. I was high off lean everyday! When yall saw me on BET going off on torae i was high off lean. My attitude everything changed. My fans started to…Turn on me my family too. I never promoted lean in my songs. The whole time i was on the UCP tour with chris I WAS SIPPING 4’s atleast 7 times a day. I was addicted until our show in Cincinnati… i came off stg [stage] and passed out woke up in the hospital i was having withdraws…I never felt a pain like that ever. It was summer but i was walking round with 3 hoodies on because i was so cold…I missed the chicago show of that tour baltimore show BECAUSE I WAS FUCKING HIGH AND SICK!!! that shit is not cool and i was doing it to be cool!..Kick that shit! Be a good son or daughter. Be the best you. Ima start being more vocal. We gotta save the youth from going out early. Parents watch your kids. Explain to them. We want yall to live man. I almost died fucking with syrup…To this day im affected my stomach will…Never be the same and it hasnt been. DRUG FREE IS THE WAY TO BE! smarten up tighten up out here. We cant lose no more of you. Not one! I love all yall. The young artist all the kids around the world… dont follow a trend. Break the cycle…PEACE…Go back and watch the face off show BET gave us! Look how dumb i looked. My ranting i was angry every day. They try to protect the truth by saying i was dehydrated…nawww bro. I WAS HIGH OFF PROMETHAZINE CODEINE! Actavis. SAY NO TO THESE DRUGS”
Snoop Dogg replied to his tweet, saying, “Love u nephew 🙏🏾✨🌹 glad u feelin better 💕💕💕💕💕”
In 2019, Lil Bow Wow also expressed his gratitude to Snoop Dogg for giving him his first opportunity in the rap game. He posted a video of him and Snoop Dogg on Instagram, with the caption, “I owe this man everything! @snoopdogg thank you for believing in me when nobody did! You gave me my name and my career! I love you unc! Forever!”
Snoop Dogg commented, “Love u 2 nephew
Conclusion
Lil Bow Wow and Snoop Dogg are not related by blood, but they have a strong rap connection that goes beyond music. They are like family, who have supported each other through their highs and lows. They have also inspired many young rappers to follow their dreams and make their mark in the hip hop industry.
According to The Source, Snoop Dogg said that he is proud of Lil Bow Wow’s achievements, and that he will always be his “lil’ homie”. He said, “He’s grown into a man now, but he’ll always be my lil’ homie.”
