The Bottom Line
Sweet but not overly saccharine is the best description for this duet between Bow Wow, child rapper now becoming an adult artist, and Ciara, one of the hottest female r&b singers. The two are a dating couple in real life, and the affection between them shows. If you're in the mood for a light hip hop soundtrack to the perfect date, this is your song.
Pros
- The match between Bow Wow's straightforward rapping and Ciara's sweet vocals
- A great date song
Cons
- Definitely a light piece of hip hop fluff
Description
- Effective at being romantic without overt sexuality
- Light raps from Bow Wow in counterpoint to singing from Ciara
- The pair obviously click
Guide Review - Like You - Bow Wow featuring Ciara (Sony Urban)
For months rumors flew among the fans of Bow Wow, age 18, and Ciara, age 19, that the pair were a dating couple. With the release of this single, the second from Bow Wow's Wanted album, and its accompanying video, the couple announced that the truth would be told about their relationship. Both the song and the video effectively communicate the pleasures of young romance.
One of the keys to Bow Wow's success from the time of his emergence as a child rapper called Lil' Bow Wow is his ability to demonstrate his chops as a talented MC while avoiding explicit sexual or violent content. "Like You" is very effective at communicating the budding romance between Bow Wow and Ciara without getting wrapped up in sexual intensity. Sweet, respectful, and fun are words that come to mind to describe what is seen and heard in the relationship from the outside.
The counterpoint between Bow Wow's straightforward raps and Ciara's harmonious singing on the chorus is seriously catchy. I look forward to hearing and seeing more of this relationship unfolding in song.
