Rapper Bow Wow kicks off voter registration tour

ATLANTA (AP) - October 1, 2008 "I used to think going to the mall and hollering at girls (was) more important," he said. "But in reality, we are in a different time now. My focus now is to take it a step further to make a change and vote."

On Wednesday he kicked off a 15-city tour urging people to register for the Nov. 4 general election. He and about 50 followers spent most of the day walking more than two miles from downtown Atlanta to nearby colleges.

Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Moss, said he felt compelled to act after seeing the financial struggles of his family and friends but he's not promoting any specific candidates.

Other cities on the tour include: Philadelphia; New York; Washington; Baltimore; Boston; Nashville, Tenn.; Hartford, Conn.; Mobile, Ala.; Richmond, Va.; and Columbia, S.C.

Several other hip-hop artists are also pushing for fans to vote, including moguls Russell Simmons and P. Diddy and Atlanta rappers Young Jeezy and T.I.

Bow Wow, who began his rap career at age 13, has sold over a million records on three different albums. He recently appeared on HBO's "Entourage."