Rapper, now 29-years-old started working aged 13, has made $20m and will turn his attention to acting and TV production
US rapper Bow Wow has announced he is retiring from music, saying he just doesn’t see himself rapping as a 30-year-old.
Bow Wow, 29, found fame at the age of 13 as Lil’ Bow Wow but has lately been going by his real name, Shad Moss.
He said in a series of posts to Twitter on Sunday and Monday that his final album will be the upcoming “NYLTH”. He did not give a date for the release.
“I always said I’d retire from music before 30,” the musician tweeted. “I just can’t see myself at 30 years old rapping.”
"I always said years ago i'd retire from music before 30. I just cant see myself at 30 years old rapping" pic.twitter.com/U7Fs4R6WMf
— Shad Moss(Bow Wow) (@smoss) August 7, 2016
“Made over 20 million off rap. Why be greedy? Im good with everything I accomplished. I made it to the white house,” added the Ohio-born rapper.
As Lil’ Bow Wow, the musician released his first album Beware of the Dog in 2000. He has also launched a career as an actor, appearing in movies such as Madea’s Big Happy Family and the TV crime series CSI:Cyber.
“Retirement only means that it is time for a new adventure” over 10 million sold. This the last one. THANK YOU for the musical journey! #screamtours #over10miionsold #didwhatisaididdo #retirefromtherapgamebefore30 #blessed #princeofhiphop #sosodef #DPG “Im NOT coming back wearing the 4-5. ITS OVER
He said on Twitter he planned to focus on acting in the future and is also producing two TV shows.
More than a decade on from his biggest hit (Like You with Ciara in October 2005), news of Moss’ retirement was met with indifference, amusement, and in some cases cruelty on social media.
Tryna figure out what Bow Wow's retiring from, cause music retired from him about a decade ago.
— Hushard Benedict (@DatMichCray) August 7, 2016
Ain't Bow Wow been retired though?🤔
— Larissa (@laribeey) August 7, 2016
Bow Wow retires from rap. Everyone, "wait…he's still alive?"
— Pikachu (@SassyPika) August 8, 2016
Bow Wow retires from rapping…
Has he been rapping?— VINCE (@kipyegOnline) August 8, 2016
The headline should be "Bow Wow retires from rap. Thinks people care."
— Angie Grace (@AngieGraceLA) August 8, 2016
Moss did not respond to the Guardian’s question, posed over Twitter: why can’t you be a successful rapper at 30?
But he did appear to have embraced family life.
“Nothing like landing 12 hours later on your way to surprise your daughter at camp and she has no clue,” he tweeted on Monday evening.
"Nothing like landing 12 hours later on your way to surprise your daughter at camp and she has no clue" pic.twitter.com/QEnHNSa7B2
— Shad Moss(Bow Wow) (@smoss) August 8, 2016
At 46, Jay-Z is likely the oldest most successful rapper, though he does seem to be putting more of his energy into business pursuits such as his streaming service, Tidal, than music. Kanye West turns 40 next year.
It’s possible the seed for Moss’ retirement could have been planted by Drake, the hugely popular Canadian rapper, who at 29 is the same age.
Drake rapped in a recent song that he intended to retire before 35.
“The most successful rapper 35 and under/I’m assumin’ everybody’s 35 and under/That’s when I plan to retire, man it’s already funded,” goes the lyric, in Weston Road Flows.