It’s hard to go through life without hearing a Pitbull song.
You’ve probably listened to the synth line of ‘Hotel Room Service’ as you sip a Long Island Iced Tea at the club. The YOLO messaging of ‘Give Me Everything’ most likely invaded your radio presets multiple times, making you question the point of work as you face your morning commute. Heck, ‘Timber’ has probably played as you assess the look of some new jeans you’re trying on in a changing room. Equipped with a sharp suit and aviators, Pitbull went from riding crunk beats to charting across the globe. His rise to the top was fueled by optimism, open-mindedness, and his love of people.
Yet, how often is Pitbull talked about? For a man who has sold over 25 million records, 70 million singles, and hit the top of the charts in over 15 countries, you rarely see discourse regarding his career on the timeline. A diverse array of places like Mexico City, London, Sydney, Los Angeles, and Santiago appear at the top of the list of his 37,501,081 monthly listeners , yet you never see anyone flex his stats in a series of tweets or hot takes.
For an artist whose music is so loud, it sometimes feels like Pitbull is actually a quiet achiever. But if you look retrospectively, you’ll find two decades of success as an artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and inspirational figure.
This is how Pitbull became Mr. Worldwide.
M.I.A.M.I. Heat
Pitbull, known to loved ones as Armando Perez, was born in Miami in the ‘80s. He grew up enamoured with the sounds of Miami Bass and rappers like Jay-Z, influences that would shine through when he released his debut album M.I.A.M.I. in 2004. The album is an ode to the cultural melting pot that is the Floridian city. Pitbull cites the city’s diversity as an inspiration, sharing in 2019 that “growing up around so many cultures, it’s always allowed me to think out of the box and try new sounds and try new things”.
“His willingness to combine Latin and Dirty South elements makes M.I.A.M.I. one of the more memorable and interesting Southern rap discs of 2004.”
Every song roars with the bass and attitude of the South’s crunk movement, thanks to multiple contributions from Atlanta’s club-rap pioneer Lil Jon and verses from the likes of UGK member and Texas rap legened Bun B. It possesses the party-ready energy Miami had become known for, with support from other Florida-repping icons like DJ Khaled and Trick Daddy. Pitbull sporadically switches from Latin to English throughout his bars, with Alex Henderson of AllMusic writing in their review that “his willingness to combine Latin and Dirty South elements makes M.I.A.M.I. one of the more memorable and interesting Southern rap discs of 2004″.
M.I.A.M.I. was a moderate success, debuting at number 14 on the Billboard Top 100 but making little chart impact outside the US. However, it foreshadows his global appeal through his ability to fuse influences to create party-friendly bops, a skill that would see his art resonate with audiences around the world in following years.
Who Let The Dog Out?
Come 2009; Pitbull seemed to be at an artistic crossroads. His past two albums, El Mariel and The Boatlift, continued the style of his debut but sold less than half the copies by the end of their runs. He acknowledges this challenging period in the opening song of his 4th album, Pitbull Starring In: The Rebelution, proclaiming that “they thought it was done dawg, but he’s back bigger, better, stronger, and free“.
Pitbull Starring In: The Rebelution marks a significant change in the rapper’s style. The album left the braggadocious bars of his past work behind. Instead, Pitbull worked like a party emcee, yelping affirmations over jump-inducing production. This switch-up led to singles like ‘Hotel Room Service’ and ‘I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)’, which charted in over a dozen countries worldwide. This approach persisted throughout the next decade, spawning global hits like ‘Give Me Everything’ and ‘Timber’.
Positivity seems to have propelled Pitbull to his position as a mainstream mainstay. In a study conducted at Lawrence Technical University, scientist Lior Shamir analysed the lyrics of over 6000 Billboard Hot 100 singles from 1951 to 2016, finding that themes of sadness had steadily increased since the ‘80s. In 2007, Beyonce’s sombre single Irreplaceable topped Billboard’s year-end charts, and in 2008 Leona Lewis’ ‘Bleeding Love’ and Alicia Keys’ ‘No One; hit 2 and 3 respectively, only being beaten out by Flo Rida’s ‘Low’.
How often is Pitbull talked about? For a man who has sold over 25 million records, 70 million singles, and hit the top of the charts in over 15 countries, you rarely see discourse regarding his career on the timeline.
With sadder songs continuing to be a trend during this time period, and the success of fellow Miami acts like Flo Rida proving a demand for upbeat anthems, it makes sense that Pitbull’s polymerisation of global styles, blended with his commitment to a good time, allowed him to solidify himself as a megastar.
The Pillars of a Pitbull
Beyond the music, Pitbull keeps himself busy as a jack of many trades. He’s a public speaker, engaging in inspirational talks alongside people like Tony Robbins. He’s a philanthropist, serving as the Clean Water Here Global Ambassador for World Vision and running his non-profit educational foundation called SLAM! He’s also an entrepreneur, spearheading his label Mr. 305.The common ground these ventures share is also what makes his music connect with fans in every corner of the world: positivity.
The optimism throughout his work isn’t a tactic but a trait he’s developed through adversity. Pitbull’s mother is the one who primarily raised him, and both of his parents were Cuban immigrants who left in the wake of Fidel Castro; the controversial politician who Pitbull has spoken out against throughout his career in songs like ‘Ya Se Acabo’. He attended 25 schools throughout his educational journey, but he failed to graduate. Still, he discovered a fierce supporter in his Drama teacher Hope Martinez, whose belief inspires him to this day. Along with his mother, the pair are two role models he has constantly celebrated throughout his journey to date. They helped set the foundations of his belief in humanity, which he displays through his public speaking events, a slew of charity work, and the way he uses his record label as a platform for fellow Latin artists like Lenier and Omar Courtz.
Mr. Worldwide
In 2012, Pitbull took part in a contest with Walmart, where fans voted to decide on a US store where the rapper would perform. David Thorpe, a writer for Boston Phoenix, decided to hijack this competition with a prank, urging his followers to vote for the remote island of Kodiak in Alaska. Pitbull responded, saying, “You have to understand I will go anywhere in the world for my fans”. That’s why he arrived in Kodiak, suited up, aviators equipped, and ready to perform. This situation is a perfect illustration of how he earned the moniker Mr. Worldwide. Any time, any place, no matter how far or wide – Pitbull is there, ready to inspire a crowd of adoring fans.
His style isn’t bound to any particular genre, and he weaves together elements of club music, crunk, and more to reflect the diversity of his Miami upbringing. His music resonates around the globe, thanks to its uptempo nature and positive affirmations. His existence is dedicated to uplifting people, showing his belief in humanity through entrepreneurial, philanthropic, and inspirational ventures. He does this all in homage to the optimism that role models like his mother and drama teacher instilled in him, and there’s nowhere in the world he won’t travel to share this joy.
So, next time you’re sipping on that Long Island Iced Tea, commuting to work, or trying on those new jeans as a Pitbull song plays, embrace his words and celebrate yourself, because Mr. Worldwide is celebrating you already. Dale.
Henry Owens is a Melbourne-based writer dedicated to good bars and gargantuan breakdowns. You can find him trawling on Twitter and Instagram.
Image credit: Pitbull via The Boca Raton Observer