S. Samuel
Bow Wow has announced his departure from Columbia Records after publicly pleading with the label earlier this month and calling out their lack of relevant rap acts.
The rapper wrote via his Twitter account to confirm parting ways with the major label.
“wanna thank them for the release,” he wrote, unmodified. “and also thank them 4 err thang. i made all my hits with them. and i have nothing bad 2 say about em. luv…10 top 10 records, 10 million sold, tours etc…thanks. now im able to expand and take things to another level. my fans get ready its on now! ‘jus signed my term of agreement from sony’ thank u 4 all da hardwork and dedication. liz, b nolan, ayelette, bolo, mike, demetrius, darrel j etc. Steve B. Rob String. footy, yall hold it down. if it wasnt 4 yall i wudnt be here yall help build da bow wow brand. and alos lisa wiggins.” (Bow Wow’s Twitter)
Reports spread online yesterday (June 23) which said the rapper was dropped by the label.
Our A&R source at Columbia Records tells TheYBF.com that rapper Bow Wow has just been dropped from the label. We called the Columbia offices to get an official statement, but it was after hours. Columbia has, though, removed him from their website. (The YBF)
Bow Wow pleaded to be released from his contract in a public video earlier this month.
“I’m going to talk directly into the camera because I know people are probably in the office getting calls saying Bow Wow was on here talking about he wants off Columbia Records,” he said in a video. “Everybody in the office at Columbia Records, do me a favor. My fans, they see it. They recognize it. They see you guys ain’t working as hard as you guys used to work back in 2000. It’s a big difference, they see it…Can you please grant me this one wish? Columbia, can you please grant me this wish and let me go? That’s all I’m asking, please let me go. Please, please, please, please, please, please. Thank y’all, I’m out.” (Justin TV)
He also announced his retirement from rap earlier this year.
“This is my last album because for me, there’s no more that needs to be done on the music side, I’ve done everything,” Bow explained. “And the scary thing is I’m 22 years-old and I’m young. I’m still a baby, so it’s kinda like on the music side, I’ve been doing it since five. That’s 17 years of non-stop music, music, music. There’s nothing more to accomplish that I haven’t seen yet…I feel like now it’s time to endure a new challenge…Close the chapter on the Bow Wow legacy…As far as albums, I’m good. Seven albums at 22, that’s crazy.” (Real Talk NY)
Columbia Records has not yet released a statement addressing the situation.
