EXCLUSIVE: Bow Wow Talks "Lottery Ticket", Ciara and More!

We're with one of the hottest "tickets" in town. Shad Moss aka Bow Wow first hit the scene as 'Lil Bow Wow after his discovery by music icon Snoop Dogg. His feisty chops earned the young rapper six number one singles and a bunch of gold and platinum albums.

Of course, the film industry discovered this charismatic player and cast the then teen in Like Mike and later in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Roll Bounce, Johnson Family Vacation and the hottie had a fat recurring role on the TV hit "Entourage".

Now, in Lottery Ticket, you can catch the cute 23-year-old playing a multi-million winner trying to survive in the hood until he can pick up his winnings. Needless to say, enemies are trying to "friend" him, golddiggin' women want to hook up and, can he even trust his best friend and the girl who loves him?

We cozied up on the cell with "Bow" to learn that he really identifies with his character Kevin, he has trouble finding a girl he can be "just friends" with, he was surprised when ex-love Ciara turned up at his Atlanta premiere and, yes, he has his 8th CD in the works but, right now, acting comes first. Get close and kick it with us.....

TeenHollywood: Do you remember how you felt right before you first hit it big, before you got that first big paycheck? Describe it.

Bow Wow: I thought it was gonna be a good thing but it turned out bad. It's really similar to [my character] Kevin in the movie. I just realized today doing the press, how close me and Kevin actually are. You have a kid comin' from nothin' and making it big and have all this money and power and everybody just wants a piece. In ways, that has its positive and negative effects.

TeenHollywood: Did some so-called friends just suddenly surface and wanna be close again?

Bow Wow: Yeah. There are people along the way who just want to be around and be associated with you. They want to be in a position of power too or they want to feel important and that's one thing that Kevin goes through. In that scene on the roof between him and [best friend] Benny [played by Brandon T. Jackson] Kevin is like 'I don't want you to hold my ticket' but he's supposed to be my best friend. I'm supposed to be able to trust him. At the same time, you've got to watch out for you, especially in that type of situation. I can definitely relate to it.

TeenHollywood: Any incidents in your own life where girl Golddiggers tried to move in on you? How did you handle it?

Bow Wow: Most definitely. You definitely get that. You have to have the proper teaching; somebody to tell you that because, if not, you'll get lost. There are so many guys that fall for the Nikki Swayzes in the world [ Nikki is the Golddigger in the film]. A girl can be so beautiful and so captivating that she can pretty much use herself to get anything she wants. If the guy is vulnerable enough, he's wide open and she'll get everything. There's plenty of them out here in the world that want to be with the ball player or the rapper type and like in the movie, she didn't want to use a condom and she would trap them. I know people who are in situations like that and can't do nothin' about it so you've got to be careful.

TeenHollywood: This film might just get you started as a leading man. Who would you love to co-star with in a romantic movie in future?

Bow Wow: I'm not sure. I haven't really thought about it. Whoever's willing to work with me. I'm a pretty open type of dude. I just wanna work. I love what I do and have a lot of fun doin' it.

TeenHollywood: What made you decide you really wanted to make this film? What about it really connected with you?

Bow Wow: That I could really relate to Kevin. It was something that I could see myself playing. How I usually pick my roles is I always ask myself 'Would I go see this movie even if I wasn't in it?' If the answer is 'Yes', then I know this is a movie I should do because I don't see nobody else playin' this role but me.

I knew I wanted to do it once I had met with Erik White the director who told me, 'If you don't do it, then I'm probably not gonna do it and the movie will probably never come out'. So there was a little pressure riding on me because they hoped I liked the script. I read it the whole way back home to Miami and enjoyed it. I called my agent and said 'Yo, it's a go' and next thing I know Cube's on board and Mike Epps, Charlie Murphy, the list goes on and on.

TeenHollywood: How did you come up with the little "happy dance" you do in the living room when you realize you've won the lottery? Was that just your own creation? Because it was both cute and kinda nerdy.

Bow Wow: [laughs] A lot of people don't understand. That's who I really am! That's me being me. Nobody choreographed that. That's just me bein' who I am. Just being Shad and having fun. Usually, when I act, I don't get a chance to be me. I'm always Bow Wow all the time and a lot of people don't know who Shad Moss really is and I think, in the movie when you see me goofin' like that, that's me. I'm a goofball. I like to play around and be a big kid.

TeenHollywood: What did you do on the soundtrack for this movie?

Bow Wow: I contributed a record to it. It's "My Hood" with Sean Kingston and DJ Caillet. I was honored and privileged enough to be able to have a first look off of it then to have my song in the movie. That's every entertainer's dream; to actually star in a movie and have the first song off the movie. That's a blessing.

TeenHollywood: Ciara showed up for the Atlanta premiere for this movie. Are you two still tight as friends?

Bow Wow: I wouldn't say that but I definitely respect what she does and vice versa; if you ask her, she'd probably tell you the same. I was just as shocked as everybody else was. I'm happy that she came out and enjoyed the movie. I saw that she had tweeted about it so I hit her back and said 'Thanks, I definitely appreciate it'. But you know how that is, the moment people see us even close or near each other it starts raising eyebrows but no, I'm totally focused to on the project at hand and my career right now. That's all I will be focused on. I wish her the best of luck. I was definitely glad she came out and supported the film. We're growing older, we're maturing and we're adults and we're able to go to each other's events. We're not the only ex-couple I've seen support each other so it shows growth and it's all good.

TeenHollywood: Did the cast and crew do anything fun off set in Atlanta while making the movie?

Bow Wow: Well, I'm took 'um to the strip club. On my lunch break, I took my castmates to the strip club and they lost their mind. It was crazy. I'm used to that by livin' in Atlanta. They're comin' from L.A. and don't really see too much of that so they kind of lost their mind in the club and had a great time. It was fun.

TeenHollywood: What was your favorite scene and why?

Bow Wow: Probably the roof scene [where Kevin is angry at his best friend and everyone for trying to muscle in on his potential lottery cash]. I have so many things in my past that I can get angry about just thinking about it. I love the more dramatic stuff. That's the easiest stuff to do.

TeenHollywood: Is there now or was there ever a Sheri in your life; a female friend who stood by you when other girls were dissing you?

Bow Wow: It was always hard for me to have a female friend. They would always end up liking me. I'm sure an attractive woman would say the same thing. They say 'I'm not trying to have no guy but every time I try to have my homeboy they always end up likin' me'. It's the same thing with me. It's always hard for me to have my homie, a girl who is just a homie. But, I'm fine right now in the space I'm in. I'm comfortable. I'm good.

TeenHollywood: Is there a movie with Tyler Perry in your future or is that just a rumor?

Bow Wow: Oh, that's definitely true. It's Medea's Big Happy Family. I'm thrilled and excited to be workin' with Tyler Perry, Rubin Cannon and the entire Perry Studio family. We started like four days ago and, due to my schedule, they are allowing me to travel and promote this movie which is a blessing and I'm thankful so much for that. It's a blessing to go from Lottery Ticket to working with a legendary director who, every time he puts a movie out, it's gold.

TeenHollywood: Did anyone ever tell you that when you made it big you needed to give back to the old neighborhood? Kevin gave some scholarships and helped people start businesses. Have you ever done anything like that?

Bow Wow: If I do have a charity I would support, I would have to see it. I don't trust that type of stuff but I'm always in a helping mood and I've done a lot of work with the Make a Wish Foundation visiting kids and going into underprivileged areas. When I did the Walk Across America campaign [to inspire young voter involvement], I went to every hood in America just about on the East Coast and actually walked and got kids to register to vote and went to a lot of Black colleges and that type of stuff. When I do stuff like that it's just Shad being Shad, doin' something I want to do.

TeenHollywood: Would you ever want to play an action hero or superhero?

Bow Wow: Any one where I could take my shirt off and show the ladies. That's what I would want to do. I couldn't go wrong with either.

TeenHollywood: What were you like at age 16 and who are you now?

Bow Wow: As a teen I was very arrogant and cocky. Now, I'm very humble and more mature. I've done very well with my patience. I think, if you have patience, you can make it through anything. That was what I had to work on most was becoming a better man and having patience.

TeenHollywood: Is your 8th album coming out in December? Are you working again with Jermain Dupri and is there an overall message to the music on that album?

Bow Wow: We don't have a title yet. As of right now it's slated for December but I'm not sure. I've been so focused on the acting thing I don't have time to focus on that. I haven't worked with Jermain yet on it but I'm hoping I'll get a chance to.

I'm taking my time with it. It's my first album with Cash Money. I want it to be totally different from anything before you've ever heard come from me. The songs will be deeper and in detail. I really want to touch the people and talk about things that the people can relate to. I want them to know I'm just like them and not too far off.

TeenHollywood: When you come up with a rap, do you write it on a piece of paper, put it in a computer or what?

Bow Wow: I put it in the i-phone. I come up with the beat first and let the beat speak to me then I proceed to write.

TeenHollywood: Do you want to write a film or direct some day?

Bow Wow: I want to direct.

TeenHollywood: Is there a famous person in history or in books that you would like to play some day?

Bow Wow: Wow! Basquiat, the painter. [Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) was an American artist and is the first painter of African descent to become an international art star. He started as a graffiti writer in New York City]