Wanted (Bow Wow album)

Wanted
Studio album by Bow Wow
Released July 12, 2005
Recorded 2004–05
Genre Hip hop
Length 47:09
Label Columbia
Producer Jermaine Dupri, LRoc, Bryan Michael Cox, No I.D.
Bow Wow chronology

Unleashed
(2003)		 Wanted
(2005)		 The Price of Fame
(2006)
Singles from Beware of Dog
  1. "Let Me Hold You"
    Released: March 11, 2005
  2. "Like You"
    Released: August 6, 2005
  3. "Fresh Azimiz"
    Released: January 5, 2006

Wanted is the fourth studio album by American rapper Bow Wow; it was released on July 12, 2005, by Columbia Records. The album debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 120,000 copies in the first week. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping over a million copies in the United States. Clean versions of "Fresh Azimiz" and "Let Me Hold You" were recorded. This was Bow Wow's first album to contain uncensored profanity, albeit only in the form of the word "nigga".

Wanted received mixed reviews from music critics. The album spawned three successful singles, "Let Me Hold You" featuring R&B singer Omarion, "Like You" featuring R&B singer Ciara, and "Fresh Azimiz" featuring rappers J-Kwon and Jermaine Dupri. "Big Dreams", the remix to "Fresh Azimiz" featuring Mike Jones and "Caviar" featuring Snoop Dogg, were service as an accompanying music videos. As of October 2006, the album has sold 956,000 copies in the United States.

Commercial performance

Wanted debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 120,000 copies in the first week.[1]

The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping over a million copies in the United States.[2] As of October 2006, the album has sold 956,000 copies in the United States.[3]


Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [4]
Entertainment Weekly (mixed)[5]
People [6]
RapReviews (4.5/10)[7]
USA Today [8]
Vibe [9]

The album received mixed reviews from music critics. Steve Jones of USA Today found some change in Bow Wow and his music, concluding with "This album doesn't break any new ground but marks the coming of age of a likable artist."[8] David Jeffries of AllMusic praised Bow Wow for his charisma throughout the album, despite its B-level beats and that its marketing towards a teen demographic. He concluded with "At the very least, it's an interesting way to develop a child star into an adult star, and a hook-filled one at that."[4] Angie Romero of Vibe highlighted the first two singles off the album but found everything else to be lackluster, saying "The rest of Wanted finds him struggling to carve his niche as a grown rapper minus the Bow Wow bounce.[9] Matt Jost of RapReviews gave a negative review, criticizing the generic production from Jermaine Dupri and finding Bow Wow to be unspectacular in the material given to him. He concluded by saying, "With "Wanted," he's still 'in transition', chances for a turnaround are still intact, but the way things are looking Bow Wow is speeding down a dead-end street."[7]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Do You"  Jaron Alston, Jermaine Dupri, James PhillipsDupri, LRoc* 3:32
2. "Big Dreams"  Dupri, Shawntae Harris, PhillipsDupri, LRoc* 3:34
3. "Let Me Hold You" (featuring Omarion)Dupri, Brenda Russell, Ernest WilsonNo I.D., Dupri* 4:10
4. "Fresh Azimiz" (featuring Jermaine Dupri & J-Kwon)Dupri, Phillips,Dupri, LRoc* 4:32
5. "Caviar" (featuring Snoop Dogg)Alston, Calvin Broadus, Dupri, PhillipsDupri, LRoc* 3:44
6. "Like You" (featuring Ciara)Alston, Johntá Austin, Ricky Bell, Dupri, Ralph TresvantBryan-Michael Cox, Dupri* 3:27
7. "B.O.W."  Shad Moss, Alston, Ronnie JacksonBow Wow 3:35
8. "Go"  B. Cox, Dupri, McKinley Jackson, Robert Simpson, Melvin Steals, Howard ThompsonB. Cox, Dupri* 4:24
9. "Do What It Do" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)Dupri, PhillipsDupri, LRoc* 3:06
10. "Is That You (P.Y.T.)"  Dupri, James Ingram, Quincy Jones, PhillipsDupri, LRoc* 3:57
11. "Mo Money" (featuring T. Waters)Dupri, Phillips, Anthony T. WatersDupri, LRoc* 9:08
Notes
Sample credits

Wanted Reloaded (dual disc)

The CD side of the disc contains the original 11 tracks.

DVD side
  1. "Do You [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  2. "Big Dreams [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  3. "Let Me Hold You [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  4. "Fresh Azimiz [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  5. "Caviar [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  6. "Like You [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]
  7. "B.O.W. [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  8. "Go [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  9. "Do What It Do [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  10. "Is That You (P.Y.T.) [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  11. "Mo Money [Enhanced Stereo] [DVD]"
  12. "Like You (Behind-The-Scenes Footage) [DVD]"
  13. "Let Me Hold You (Direct Your Own Video) [DVD]"
  14. "Let Me Hold You [DVD] [Music Video]"
  15. "Like You Music Video [DVD] [Music Video]"
  16. "Bow Wow's Biggest Fans [DVD]"

Bonus DVD

  1. "Big Dreams (The Movie) [DVD]"
  2. "Caviar [DVD] [Multimedia Track]"

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[10] 3
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] 3
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[12] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[2] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Personnel

Adapted from the Wanted liner notes.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Chris (July 20, 2005). "R. Kelly Fights Off Slim Thug And Bow Wow To Hold #1 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American album certifications – Bow Wow – Wanted". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  3. ↑ "Bow Wow Pouring Heart Out On New Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 24, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jeffries, David. "Bow Wow - Wanted". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  5. ↑ Fiore, Raymond (July 18, 2005). "Wanted Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Brad Paisley". People. Time Inc. August 22, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jost, Matt (August 23, 2005). "Bow Wow :: Wanted :: Columbia/Sony BMG Music Entertainment". RapReviews. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jones, Steve (July 11, 2005). "Bow Wow inspires; Nelson misfires". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Spin Media (September 2005). Vibe 13. Spin Media. p. 236. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bow Wow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Bow Wow. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bow Wow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Bow Wow. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bow Wow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rap Albums for Bow Wow. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wanted (liner notes). Bow Wow. Columbia. 2005.