Bow Wow Is Changing His Name (Again)

The performer is ready for a grown-up identity.

ByABC News
June 25, 2014, 4:24 AM
Bow Wow appears on "106 & Park" at the BET studio March 25, 2014, in New York City.
Bow Wow appears on "106 & Park" at the BET studio March 25, 2014, in New York City.
Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images

June 25, 2014 -- So long, Bow Wow.

The performer – best known for his rap music and movie roles in the early 2000s – announced that he’d like to be identified by his birth name, Shad Moss.

"We made a lot of history as bow wow," he wrote on Instagram. "Now its [sic] time for the next chapter and challenge. Bow wow does not fit who I am today. Ima father, business man, TV host, Actor, and rapper! Time for MR Moss to take over!"

The name change will take effect after the BET Awards, which airs Sunday. But he has already updated his Twitter page to reflect the change.

This isn’t his first name switch. Moss, 27, was initially known as Lil' Bow Wow, but dropped the Lil’ in 2002.

"I changed my name because I’m getting older now and it’s too many Lil's," he said at the time.

Moss hosts BET's "106 & Park" today and is also working on a new album.