Salzers

Reviews:

You've probably heard that Bow Wow is no longer "Lil." But more importantly-at least from the marketing standpoint that's inseparable from his music-the sixteen-year-old MC has parted ways with mentor Jermaine Dupri. See, JD doesn't have a great track record when it comes to ushering kiddie rappers into adolescence (two words: Kris Kross) and Bow Wow hopes to succeed where Jermaine's far more personable protegees stalled. Since there's no justice in the world, he'll probably succeed.

The only rapper featured in Vanity Fair's Teen Issue isn't bashful about crossover appeal ("Every suburban middle American gonna be bumpin' this," he boasts). Nor does he shy away from single entendres intended to make women on the other side of the legal divide giggle-on the very first track, he's supposedly got girls "yellin' at the top of they lungs." (I wonder how cute folks would find it if a teen girl was so proud of the attention of adult men.)

Like so many of his elders, Bow Wow simply assumes the attentions of the ladies over the best beats money can buy (the Neptunes, Swizz Beatz). His personal charm proves limited though: when he slows things down a bit on "My Baby" (complete with Jagged Edge harmonies) he reveals himself to be an easily resistible piece of callow jailbait. He claims to be excited about turning "Eighteen," but that'll just be a higher hurdle to jump. Careful, son or you'll mature right out of your gimmick.