Cuban-American MC's Debut Album M.I.A.M.I. Was the Biggest-Selling
Bilingual Hip-Hop Debut In More Than a Decade, Selling More Than
600,000 Copies; Not Since Cypress Hills Debut Has a Spanish-Fluent Rap Artist Achieved Such Sales Levels
The #1 Latin Artist on Myspace Has More Than Culo On His Mind;
New Album El Mariel (Oct. 17th - TVT Records) Addresses Subjects
Ranging from the Current State of Cuba to President Bush's Misguided War in Iraq;
Best-selling Cuban American MC Pitbull is gearing up for the October
17th
release of his highly-anticipated second studio album El Mariel (Diaz
Bros./TVT Records). Although he makes songs about getting "culo,"
Pitbull
is more preoccupied with preserving the image of his isla bonita, Cuba,
and
unmasking Pres. George W. Bush's misguided war.
With his new sophomore album, El Mariel, named after the infamous Cuban
boatlift that relocated almost 125,000 cubanos to Florida, Pitbull will
make
the biggest impact a Latino has made in hip-hop since Big Pun.
Inspired by
one of the most dramatic events in Cuban history, El Mariel is
overflowing
with enlightening gems, rap ballads and club bangers. After the success
of
his gold-selling debut M.I.A.M.I. the music community was having a
difficult
time placing a label on Pit. They have this misconception about Pit,
says
the 25-year-old MC. Theyll say, Hes just this Latin rapper, hes a
reggaeton act, hes crunk. They dont know what to say about me.
[After El
Mariel] a lot of folks are gonna start saying, You gotta watch out for
that
boy Pit.
Last year, Pitbull surpassed gold status for more than 500,000 copies
sold
of his debut album M.I.A.M.I.: Money Is A Major Issue in the United
States. The feat gave Pitbull the biggest-selling bilingual hip-hop
debut
since Cypress Hills 1991 self-titled debut, and put him in the rare
category of Latino rappers who have achieved major success at
English-language radio. Bolstered by such breakthrough singles as
Culo,
Dammit Man, and Toma, Pitbulls debut - as well as its
highly-successful
successor remix album Money Is Still a Major Issue - have made
Pitbull an
unstoppable Latino voice in urban music.
The Miami-based rapper has collaborated with a whos who of hip-hop and
reggaeton artists, including Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins, Orishas, Daddy
Yankee, Twista and Rick Ross. Pitbulls recent speaking appearance at
the
Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) Tres Crossovers panel
nearly
stole the show, with Billboard honing in on Pitbulls
self-identification
as a successful rapper who also happens to be Latin. Unlike many
other
Latino rappers, Pitbull has managed to achieve success in the
mainstream
hip-hop world with bilingual lyrics and potent beats laced with
reggaeton.
He is equally comfortable sharing the stage at the VIBE Awards with Lil
Jon
as he is collaborating with Paulina Rubio at the MTV Latin America
Awards.
Born to Cuban immigrants, Pitbull was raised by a single mother in
Miami.
With his mother, who worked three jobs, Pit was frequently relocating
as a
youth. The constant moving made Pit adapt to any environment and
interact
with different types of people. His absent father reemerged in his life
when
Pitbull was 18. Since then until his passing this year, Pit remained on
friendly terms with his father. All the while Pit was falling for
hip-hop.
Through his constant winning verbal warfare, his VIP friendships (Lil
Jon
and Luke Campbell) Pit signed with TVT and released his gold-selling
debut,
M.I.A.M.I. (Money Is A Major Issue) in 2004.
Crossing over different cultures is one of Pits strong suits. On
Dime,
his collaboration with Puerto Rican crooner Ken Y, Lil Jon produces his
Latin version of Ushers Lovers and Friends. Ay Chico finds Ying
Yang
Twins producer, Mr. Collipark, providing Pit with a bass-heavy booty
shaker.
Still, Pit isnt satisfied with being a successful artist solely in the
U.S.
market. Witnessing how reggaeton has exploded with his help, Pit is not
one
to play the wall. After the release of El Mariel, he will debut his
first
full-length Spanish only album, Armando, at the top of 2007. But dont
expect the flavor of the month genre to be his backdrop of choice.
[Armando] is an Afro-Cuban based project. A lot of energy and just a
different movement, says Pitbull. Lil Jon, Orishas, the Diaz
Brothers, Jim
Jonsin, Echo from Puerto Rico and Mr. Collipark are gonna be working on
it.
I would love for me and Jon to have a number one record on the Latin
charts.
It would be me bringing him over just like he brought me over to his
side.
While his Spanish-language debut is still months away, Pit is
concentrating
on delivering an educational and entertaining opus with El Mariel.
From
being a rising underground MC to an internationally known artist, Pit
is
following in the footsteps of those who came in the infamous 1980
boatlift.
Some [Marielitos] yes were criminals, some came from a negative
backgroundS
but you have those who became politicians, lawyers, judges, and
doctors, you
name it, says Pit. Now that I got my foot in the door its time to
take
opportunities like the Marielitos did.
Spoken like a perfect example of an ambassador.
######
For more information on Pitbull and the album EL MARIEL please contact
Joe Wiggins
TVT Records
23 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
212.979.6410 x290
212.979.6489
joe@tvtrecords.com
