Pitbull (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Armando Christian Pérez (born January 15, 1981), better known by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon
album Kings of Crunk
in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I.
(short for Money Is a Major Issue) under TVT Records
. Since then, he has released two other albums under the label, El Mariel
in 2006 and The Boatlift
in 2007. He then released Rebelution
in 2009, which included singles "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
" and "Krazy
". The latter peaked at No.30 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts while "I Know You Want Me" peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100 and peaked within the top ten spots of charts in the UK, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The song reached No.1 in France and the European Hot 100 on the week ending August 29, 2009 according to Billboard magazine. He later signed with Polo Grounds Music
through Sony Music and created his own label Mr. 305 Inc. Other singles from Rebelution included "Blanco
" featuring Pharrell Williams
of The Neptunes
and "Hotel Room Service
", the latter of which peaked at No.8 on the Hot 100. Rebelution
went on to sell over 7.5 million worldwide digital singles and albums combined.
Pérez is also the host of his own Spanish-language program on the cable channel Mun2
titled La Esquina (Spanish for The Corner).
In 2005 Pérez and rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs
co-founded Bad Boy Latino
, a subsidiary of Combs' Bad Boy Records
label. It primarily focuses on Latin Rap
, Latin Soul
and Tropical music
, and has offices in Miami and New York. Along with co-founding it, Pérez currently heads the A&R
division of the label.
Pérez has become a product endorser, representing alongside Drake
, Rihanna
, and Trey Songz
the “So Kodak” campaign for the Kodak brand and embarking on a partnership with the soda giant Dr Pepper
as part of the campaign “Vida 23” for which he recorded the song specifically for it that was also featured on his album Armando.
parents who made him recite the works of poet José Martí
. He encountered problems early in his career as a rapper because he was blue-eyed
and Cuban American
. He was also influenced by the Miami bass
genre of hip hop music and has cited Celia Cruz
and Willy Chirino as sources of inspiration for his music. Perez's parents separated when he was young, and he was raised by his mother. He later spent time with a foster family in Roswell
, Georgia. At age 16, his mother kicked him out of their house after he became a drug dealer, as had his father before him. He then graduated from Miami Coral Park High School
and focused his career in rapping.
Pitbull explained the reason behind choosing his stage name, saying about the dog
"they bite to lock. The dog is too stupid to lose. And they're outlawed in Dade County
. They're basically everything that I am. It's been a constant fight." After meeting Lil Jon
in Miami, Pitbull was featured on Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz' album Kings of Crunk
in 2002. Pitbull's song "Oye" was featured on the soundtrack to the film 2 Fast 2 Furious
the following year. In addition, Pitbull also released several mixtapes, composed of freestyles
and remixes of popular rap music. Campbell featured Pitbull in his single "Lollipop".
's Luke Records
by Jullian Boothe, then the label's vice-president of A&R. In 2001 Pitbull was introduced to Robert Fernandez of Famous Artist Music & Management, an independent label and management company specialising in developing artists, by the Diaz Brothers
, a producer duo signed to the company. Fernandez "saw the eagerness and hunger he had" and, with the Luke Records deal ending, began working to develop Pitbull. Together they focused on creating a more radio-friendly sound. Fernandez later told HitQuarters
: "At that time his music had a lot of verses and took a long time to get into the hook, and so we took time in getting the songs catchier and less on the rap side." Pitbull recorded between 50 and 70 songs.
Fernandez introduced Pitbull to Lil Jon
with a mind to trying to secure the rapper a small guest intro spot on Lil Jon's upcoming album "Kings of Crunk". According to Fernandez, Jon took a liking to Pitbull and went one better by offering him his own track on the album called "Pitbulls Cuban Ride Out", a feature that would help raise the young rapper's profile.
, with the lead single being "Culo
" ("Ass" in English) produced by Lil Jon and the Diaz Brothers
. It peaked at No.32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Other singles included "Dammit Man", "Back Up", "Toma", and "That's Nasty" (both featuring Lil Jon). He joined the Anger Management Tour, the 2000 hip-hop concert tour headlined by Eminem
and 50 Cent
. Pitbull also appeared on the Ying Yang Twins
' single "Shake", which peaked at No.41 on the Hot 100 and No.12 on the rap chart, and Twista
's "Hit the Floor
" (#94 Hot 100, No.20 Rap). Remix album Money Is Still a Major Issue
was released in November 2007; it included new track "Everybody Get Up", a duet with hip-hop/R&B group Pretty Ricky
.
TVT Records
, Pitbull's label at the time, and Slip-N-Slide Records
disputed over the release of Welcome to the 305, an unreleased album by Slip-N-Slide that Pitbull had recorded in 2001. A Miami judge ruled that Slip-N-Slide had a legal right to release the album as it was recorded when Pitbull was a Slip-N-Slide artist, and prior to him signing with TVT Records. A U.S. District Court judge affirmed the decision further. TVT was then ordered in March 2007 to pay Slip-N-Slide $9.1 million for attempting to block the album's release to record stores and digital download entities.
's South Beach
. Also in 2006, he recorded "Nuestro Himno
" in collaboration with Wyclef Jean
, Carlos Ponce
, and Olga Tañón
. On Listennn... the Album, the debut album by Terror Squad
member and Miami radio personality DJ Khaled
, Pitbull performed on three singles: "Holla At Me" and "Born-n-Raised" alongside other Southern based rappers.
El Mariel
, Pitbull's second album, was released in October 2006. The title was in reference to the town from which the Cuban refugees came to Florida in the movie Scarface
. He dedicated the album to his father, who died that year in May. Along with the usual party-oriented tracks, Pitbull also included politically-themed tracks in El Mariel. The album was released on October 31, 2006, and included singles "Bojangles", "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)", "Fuego", and duet with Puerto Rican singer Ken-Y, "Dime (Remix)". El Mariel topped the Billboard independent albums chart and peaked at No.17 on the Billboard 200 and No.2 on the rap chart.
Pitbull's third album, titled The Boatlift
, was released in November 2007, spawned by the single "Secret Admirer" featuring Lloyd
on the chorus. Earlier, Pitbull announced that this album would have a more gangsta rap
edge than his earlier albums. Subsequent singles included "Go Girl" featuring Trina
, and "The Anthem
" featuring and produced Lil Jon
, that song sampling the hook from the song "El Africano" by Wilfrido Vargas
and the beat from the song "Calabria
" by Rune RK
. "Go Girl" peaked at No.80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.36 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart; "The Anthem" No.36 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
His variety show, Pitbull's La Esquina, debuted May 2007 on the mun2
cable network. On December 21, 2007, Pitbull was arrested for drunk driving; he posted $1,000 on bail and pleaded not guilty. He was later acquitted from the charge. Pitbull also appeared on DJ Laz
' "Move Shake Drop
" and DJ Felli Fel
's "Feel It
".
, Pitbull released "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
" through Ultra Records
after his former label TVT Records went out of business. "Krazy" peaked at No.30 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts. "I Know You Want Me" peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100 and peaked within the top ten spots of charts in the UK, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The song reached No.1 in France and the European Hot 100 on the week ending August 29, 2009 according to Billboard magazine. On Dec. 11, 2009, Billboard announced their Year-End Canadian Update, placing "I Know You Want Me" at No.7 on the Hot 100 chart and No.2 on the CHR/Top 40 chart. He later signed with Polo Grounds Music
through Sony Music and created his own label Mr. 305 Inc. Other singles included "Blanco", featuring Pharrell Williams
of The Neptunes
, and "Hotel Room Service
", which samples "Push the Feeling On
" and which peaked at No.9 on the Hot 100. On their second collaboration since "Go Girl", Pitbull appeared on the debut single of rapper David Rush (formerly Young Bo$$), "Shooting Star
", also with Kevin Rudolf
and LMFAO
. An amateur video of Pitbull punching a disruptive audience member at a Colorado concert leaked on the Internet in late May 2009. Pitbull explained to MTV News that it was because the fan kept throwing cash around the stage, and after Pitbull pulled him up to the stage, he threw a stash of money right in Pitbull's face. He has been tapped by the Miami Dolphins
to work alongside T-Pain
& Jimmy Buffett
to release a new fight song for the Dolphins. The city of Miami granted Pitbull a "Key to the City" honor on August 19.
In 2010, Pitbull performed the rap section in the Haiti benefit song "Somos El Mundo", a Spanish version of "We Are the World
", that included a huge group of Latin artists led by Emilio and Gloria Estefan
. He was also a featured guest on "Armada Latina
", the fourth single off the album Rise Up
by Latin rap legends, Cypress Hill
. The song was produced by Jim Jonsin
and also features Marc Anthony
. Pitbull then collaborated with Alexandra Burke
on the single "All Night Long
". He was also featured on "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love
" by Usher
.
Pitbull also released his full-length debut Spanish-language album titled Armando on November 2, 2010. Pitbull is also one of the most nominated artists of the upcoming Latin Billboard awards. He garnered 7 nominations for “Latin Rhythm Airplay, Song of the Year” for “Bon, Bon
”; “Latin Rhythm Airplay, Artist of the Year, Solo Artist”; “Latin Rhythm Albums, Album of the Year” for Armando
; “Latin Rhythm Albums, Artist of the Year, Solo Artist”; “Social 50, Latin Artist of the Year”; “Latin Digital Download of the Year” for “Bon, Bon
” and “Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event” for the song “I Like It
” alongside Enrique Iglesias
. He also won Telehit’s award for “Most Popular Artist”.
, on June 21, 2011. Pitbull collaborated with T-Pain on its first single, "Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
". Pitbull announced he’s the spokesperson for Voli Vodka, in which he holds a majority equity stake. Pitbull has also collaborated with Jennifer Lopez
on her single "On the Floor
". On March 22, 2011, Pitbull released his second single, "Give Me Everything
" featuring Ne-Yo
, Afrojack
and Nayer
, and three months later, the song became Pitbull's first single to top the Billboard Hot 100
. On May 2, 2011, Pitbull and Mýa
appeared on WWE Monday Night RAW to celebrate Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's birthday. Pitbull appeared as musical guest on Conan on August 1, 2011. On August 22, 2011, Lindsay Lohan
sued Pitbull, Ne-Yo and Afrojack in response to "Give Me Everything"'s lyrics referencing her name.
On October 7, RCA Music Group
announced it was disbanding J Records
along with Arista Records
and Jive Records
. With the shutdown, Pitbull (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release his future material on the RCA Records
brand.
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
album Kings of Crunk
Kings of Crunk
Kings of Crunk is the fourth studio album by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.Based on the success of the album's second single "Get Low", Kings of Crunk made the top twenty of the US album chart in September 2003...
in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I.
M.I.A.M.I.
M.I.A.M.I. is the debut studio album by rapper Pitbull. The album was released on August 3, 2004, and peaked at number 14 on the U.S...
(short for Money Is a Major Issue) under TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
. Since then, he has released two other albums under the label, El Mariel
El Mariel
El Mariel is the second studio album by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. It features production from Lil Jon, Diaz Brothers, DJ Khaled, Mr. Collipark, The Neptunes and Jim Jonsin. It includes guest appearances from Lil Jon, Twista and Trick Daddy...
in 2006 and The Boatlift
The Boatlift
-References:.......
in 2007. He then released Rebelution
Rebelution (Pitbull album)
Rebelution is the fourth studio album by Miami rapper Pitbull, released on August 28, 2009. Featured artists include Akon, B.o.B, Ke$ha, Avery Storm, Nayer, Lil Jon, The New Royales, Bass III Euro & Slim of 112. It is also his first major-label release, his first album to be released on his own...
in 2009, which included singles "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
"I Know You Want Me " is a song by rapper Pitbull released as the second single from the album, Rebelution. The song samples "75, Brazil Street" by Nicola Fasano versus Pat Rich, which itself samples "Street Player" by Chicago. The core is from a song by Dominican rappers El Cata and Omega. The...
" and "Krazy
Krazy (song)
"Krazy" is first single released by Pitbull from his album Rebelution. It features crunk rapper Lil Jon. The song peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., making it Pitbull's third highest peak on the chart. The song samples Federico Franchi's 2007 song, "Cream"...
". The latter peaked at No.30 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts while "I Know You Want Me" peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100 and peaked within the top ten spots of charts in the UK, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The song reached No.1 in France and the European Hot 100 on the week ending August 29, 2009 according to Billboard magazine. He later signed with Polo Grounds Music
Polo Grounds Music
Polo Grounds Music is a hip hop and R&B record label Polo Grounds Music is a full service entertainment company with a focus in publishing, management, marketing and promotions...
through Sony Music and created his own label Mr. 305 Inc. Other singles from Rebelution included "Blanco
Blanco (song)
"Blanco" is a song by rapper Pitbull released as the first single from the soundtrack of the film Fast & Furious. It features Pharrell. The single was released on March 24, 2009.-Music video:...
" featuring Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
of The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
and "Hotel Room Service
Hotel Room Service
"Hotel Room Service" is a song by rapper Pitbull released as the third single from his fourth album, Rebelution. The song samples "Push the Feeling On" by Nightcrawlers as well as "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. It was released to both iTunes and mainstream radio on June 16, 2009...
", the latter of which peaked at No.8 on the Hot 100. Rebelution
Rebelution (Pitbull album)
Rebelution is the fourth studio album by Miami rapper Pitbull, released on August 28, 2009. Featured artists include Akon, B.o.B, Ke$ha, Avery Storm, Nayer, Lil Jon, The New Royales, Bass III Euro & Slim of 112. It is also his first major-label release, his first album to be released on his own...
went on to sell over 7.5 million worldwide digital singles and albums combined.
Pérez is also the host of his own Spanish-language program on the cable channel Mun2
Mun2
mun2 is a national cable television broadcast network in the United States owned by NBC Universal and aimed at young Latinos. It is the sister network of Telemundo and was mostly digital television subchannels launched in 2001. The programming of mun2 is primarily music videos and shows designed...
titled La Esquina (Spanish for The Corner).
In 2005 Pérez and rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
co-founded Bad Boy Latino
Bad Boy Latino
Bad Boy Latino is a Latin hip hop record label founded in 2005 by Sean Combs and Pitbull.-History:In 2004, Sean Combs made the decision to expand his fledgling Bad Boy Records imprint to new territories. His first expansion was southern imprint, Bad Boy South, and his second was to be a Latino...
, a subsidiary of Combs' Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
label. It primarily focuses on Latin Rap
Latin rap
Latin rap is not a homogeneous musical style but rather a term that covers all Hip-Hop music recorded by artists of Latino origin.-Early Latinos in hip hop music:...
, Latin Soul
Latin soul
Latin soul was a short lived musical genre movement which developed in the 60's in New York City. It consisted of a blend of Cuban mambo with elements of Latin Jazz and Soul music. Although short-lived, the genre had a great influence on the growing Salsa movement which would dominate the New York...
and Tropical music
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
, and has offices in Miami and New York. Along with co-founding it, Pérez currently heads the A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
division of the label.
Pérez has become a product endorser, representing alongside Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, and Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
the “So Kodak” campaign for the Kodak brand and embarking on a partnership with the soda giant Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
as part of the campaign “Vida 23” for which he recorded the song specifically for it that was also featured on his album Armando.
Early life
Pitbull was born to Cuban immigrantCuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
parents who made him recite the works of poet José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
. He encountered problems early in his career as a rapper because he was blue-eyed
Eye color
Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character and is determined by two distinct factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris....
and Cuban American
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
. He was also influenced by the Miami bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
genre of hip hop music and has cited Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
and Willy Chirino as sources of inspiration for his music. Perez's parents separated when he was young, and he was raised by his mother. He later spent time with a foster family in Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
, Georgia. At age 16, his mother kicked him out of their house after he became a drug dealer, as had his father before him. He then graduated from Miami Coral Park High School
Miami Coral Park High School
Miami Coral Park Senior High School is a secondary school, located at 8865 S.W. 16th Street in the Westchester neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. The school was opened in 1963. It was the first school with A/C in south Florida. The principal is Dr. Nick JacAngelo...
and focused his career in rapping.
Pitbull explained the reason behind choosing his stage name, saying about the dog
"they bite to lock. The dog is too stupid to lose. And they're outlawed in Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
. They're basically everything that I am. It's been a constant fight." After meeting Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
in Miami, Pitbull was featured on Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz' album Kings of Crunk
Kings of Crunk
Kings of Crunk is the fourth studio album by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.Based on the success of the album's second single "Get Low", Kings of Crunk made the top twenty of the US album chart in September 2003...
in 2002. Pitbull's song "Oye" was featured on the soundtrack to the film 2 Fast 2 Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious is a 2003 street racing action film directed by John Singleton. It is the second film in The Fast and the Furious film series following The Fast and the Furious . It stars Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Devon Aoki, and Chris Bridges; and was directed by John Singleton. The...
the following year. In addition, Pitbull also released several mixtapes, composed of freestyles
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
and remixes of popular rap music. Campbell featured Pitbull in his single "Lollipop".
2000-2003: Luke Records and TVT Records
In 2001 Pitbull was signed to Luther CampbellLuther Campbell
Luther R. Campbell , also known as Luke Skyywalker, Uncle Luke or Luke, is a record label owner, rap performer , and actor...
's Luke Records
Luke Records
Luke Records is the record label formed in 1990 by Luther Campbell, frontman of 2 Live Crew.The label was originally called Luke Skyywalker Records, however because it was not found to be of fair use, Campbell shortened his pseudonym to "Luke" .-Artists:* 2 Live Crew* MC Shy D*...
by Jullian Boothe, then the label's vice-president of A&R. In 2001 Pitbull was introduced to Robert Fernandez of Famous Artist Music & Management, an independent label and management company specialising in developing artists, by the Diaz Brothers
Diaz Brothers
Lu Diaz and Hugo Diaz are brothers who form the Diaz Brothers music production team based out of Miami, Florida. Although they feel they are not limited to one type of music, their primary focus is on Hip-Hop, and are most famous for bringing the Cuban rapper Pitbull to fame...
, a producer duo signed to the company. Fernandez "saw the eagerness and hunger he had" and, with the Luke Records deal ending, began working to develop Pitbull. Together they focused on creating a more radio-friendly sound. Fernandez later told HitQuarters
HitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
: "At that time his music had a lot of verses and took a long time to get into the hook, and so we took time in getting the songs catchier and less on the rap side." Pitbull recorded between 50 and 70 songs.
Fernandez introduced Pitbull to Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
with a mind to trying to secure the rapper a small guest intro spot on Lil Jon's upcoming album "Kings of Crunk". According to Fernandez, Jon took a liking to Pitbull and went one better by offering him his own track on the album called "Pitbulls Cuban Ride Out", a feature that would help raise the young rapper's profile.
2004–05: M.I.A.M.I.
In 2004, Pitbull released his debut album M.I.A.M.I.M.I.A.M.I.
M.I.A.M.I. is the debut studio album by rapper Pitbull. The album was released on August 3, 2004, and peaked at number 14 on the U.S...
, with the lead single being "Culo
Culo (song)
"Culo" is a song by rapper/singer Pitbull featuring rapper Lil Jon. It peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100, number forty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and number eleven on the Hot Rap Tracks.- Charts :...
" ("Ass" in English) produced by Lil Jon and the Diaz Brothers
Diaz Brothers
Lu Diaz and Hugo Diaz are brothers who form the Diaz Brothers music production team based out of Miami, Florida. Although they feel they are not limited to one type of music, their primary focus is on Hip-Hop, and are most famous for bringing the Cuban rapper Pitbull to fame...
. It peaked at No.32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Other singles included "Dammit Man", "Back Up", "Toma", and "That's Nasty" (both featuring Lil Jon). He joined the Anger Management Tour, the 2000 hip-hop concert tour headlined by Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
. Pitbull also appeared on the Ying Yang Twins
Ying Yang Twins
The Ying Yang Twins is an Atlanta-based American crunk rap duo consisting of Kaine and D-Roc . The group debuted in 2000 and rose to mainstream popularity in 2003 collaborating with Lil Jon in his single "Get Low"...
' single "Shake", which peaked at No.41 on the Hot 100 and No.12 on the rap chart, and Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
's "Hit the Floor
Hit the Floor
"Hit the Floor" is the second single from Twista's album The Day After , . The song features Pitbull. It was produced by Mr. Collipark....
" (#94 Hot 100, No.20 Rap). Remix album Money Is Still a Major Issue
Money Is Still A Major Issue
Money Is Still a Major Issue is a remix album by rapper Pitbull. It was released on November 15, 2005, and features several of his guest appearances, remixes and some unreleased tracks.-Track listing:Disc 1...
was released in November 2007; it included new track "Everybody Get Up", a duet with hip-hop/R&B group Pretty Ricky
Pretty Ricky
Pretty Ricky is an American R&B/hip hop group originally made up of Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, Spectacular Smith, Corey "Slick 'em" Mathis, and Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper. In 2007, Pleasure P left the group to pursue a solo career...
.
TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
, Pitbull's label at the time, and Slip-N-Slide Records
Slip-n-Slide Records
-History:Ted Lucas founded the label in 1994. Slip-n-Slide signed local rapper Trick Daddy Dollars in its early years; he debuted in 1997 with the locally popular album Based on a True Story and broke into mainstream success the next year with www.thug.com having dropped "Dollars" from his stage name...
disputed over the release of Welcome to the 305, an unreleased album by Slip-N-Slide that Pitbull had recorded in 2001. A Miami judge ruled that Slip-N-Slide had a legal right to release the album as it was recorded when Pitbull was a Slip-N-Slide artist, and prior to him signing with TVT Records. A U.S. District Court judge affirmed the decision further. TVT was then ordered in March 2007 to pay Slip-N-Slide $9.1 million for attempting to block the album's release to record stores and digital download entities.
2006–08: El Mariel and The Boatlift
In January 2006, he guest-starred in UPNUPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
's South Beach
South Beach (2006 TV series)
South Beach is a primetime television drama that ran from January 4, 2006 until February 22, 2006 on UPN. Created by Matt Cirulnick, one of its executive producers was singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. The program was panned by critics and shunned by viewers, finishing 152nd in the Nielsen TV ratings...
. Also in 2006, he recorded "Nuestro Himno
Nuestro Himno
"" is a Spanish-language version of the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". The debut of the translation came amid a growing controversy over immigration in the United States "" (Spanish for "Our Anthem") is a Spanish-language version of the United States national anthem,...
" in collaboration with Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
, Carlos Ponce
Carlos Ponce
Carlos Armando Ponce, Jr. is a Puerto Rican actor, singer, composer and television personality. Ponce began his acting career by participating in Spanish language soap operas for Televisa and Telemundo. Ponce continued to expand his acting career by participating in various American television...
, and Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón is a two-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy-winning Merengue and Latin Pop artist. Tañón has earned 5 Latin Grammy Awards and 19 Premios Lo Nuestro awards during her career.-Early years:...
. On Listennn... the Album, the debut album by Terror Squad
Terror Squad (group)
Terror Squad is an American hip hop collective that was first established in 1998. Based in The Bronx borough of New York City, the members of Terror Squad collectively debuted on a song in member Fat Joe's album Don Cartagena...
member and Miami radio personality DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled
Khaled bin Abdul Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and record label executive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his...
, Pitbull performed on three singles: "Holla At Me" and "Born-n-Raised" alongside other Southern based rappers.
El Mariel
El Mariel is the second studio album by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. It features production from Lil Jon, Diaz Brothers, DJ Khaled, Mr. Collipark, The Neptunes and Jim Jonsin. It includes guest appearances from Lil Jon, Twista and Trick Daddy...
, Pitbull's second album, was released in October 2006. The title was in reference to the town from which the Cuban refugees came to Florida in the movie Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
. He dedicated the album to his father, who died that year in May. Along with the usual party-oriented tracks, Pitbull also included politically-themed tracks in El Mariel. The album was released on October 31, 2006, and included singles "Bojangles", "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)", "Fuego", and duet with Puerto Rican singer Ken-Y, "Dime (Remix)". El Mariel topped the Billboard independent albums chart and peaked at No.17 on the Billboard 200 and No.2 on the rap chart.
Pitbull's third album, titled The Boatlift
The Boatlift
-References:.......
, was released in November 2007, spawned by the single "Secret Admirer" featuring Lloyd
Lloyd (singer)
Lloyd Polite, Jr. , who performs under the mononym Lloyd, is an American R&B recording artist, who experienced as a member of the group N-Toon before embarking on a solo career in 2004....
on the chorus. Earlier, Pitbull announced that this album would have a more gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
edge than his earlier albums. Subsequent singles included "Go Girl" featuring Trina
Trina
Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"...
, and "The Anthem
The Anthem (Pitbull song)
"The Anthem" is the second single released by Pitbull off his 2007 album The Boatlift. It features crunk rapper Lil Jon. The intro line, as well as the song's main hook, is taken from a 80s old Latin hit "El Africano" by Wilfrido Vargas...
" featuring and produced Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
, that song sampling the hook from the song "El Africano" by Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez was born in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist...
and the beat from the song "Calabria
Calabria (song)
"Calabria" is a house music single by Danish producer Rune. It was co-produced by Rune's half-brother Johannes Torpe and originally released in 2003 by Credence, a sublabel of Parlophone Records....
" by Rune RK
Rune RK
Rune Reilly Kølsch , also known as Rune RK, Rune and Enur, is a record producer and DJ from Denmark. Together with his half-brother Johannes Torpe they make up the musical production team Artificial Funk.-Career:...
. "Go Girl" peaked at No.80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.36 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart; "The Anthem" No.36 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
His variety show, Pitbull's La Esquina, debuted May 2007 on the mun2
Mun2
mun2 is a national cable television broadcast network in the United States owned by NBC Universal and aimed at young Latinos. It is the sister network of Telemundo and was mostly digital television subchannels launched in 2001. The programming of mun2 is primarily music videos and shows designed...
cable network. On December 21, 2007, Pitbull was arrested for drunk driving; he posted $1,000 on bail and pleaded not guilty. He was later acquitted from the charge. Pitbull also appeared on DJ Laz
DJ Laz
Lazaro Mendez, better known by his stage name DJ Laz is a Cuban-American rapper and DJ from Miami, Florida.He is best known for his albums DJ Laz and Category 6, which charted on U.S. Billboard album charts...
' "Move Shake Drop
Move Shake Drop
"Move Shake Drop" is a song by DJ Laz released as the first single from his 2008 studio album Category 6. It features Flo Rida , Casely & Pitbull.The song samples Benny Benassi's track "Satisfaction" for as the background beat for the song....
" and DJ Felli Fel
DJ Felli Fel
James Andrew Corrine, better known by his stage name DJ Felli Fel is a club and radio DJ for L.A.'s Power 106, record producer, and a recording artist recently signed to So So Def/Island Urban Music. He is also a member of The Heavy Hitters DJs....
's "Feel It
Feel It
"Feel It" is a song by The Tamperer featuring Maya, released in May 1998. The song became a number one single in the United Kingdom, and samples the Jacksons' Top 10 1981 hit "Can You Feel It". In 1998 It reached #1 in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and #4 on the US Billboard Hot Dance...
".
2009–2010: Rebelution and Armando
For his fourth studio album RebelutionRebelution (Pitbull album)
Rebelution is the fourth studio album by Miami rapper Pitbull, released on August 28, 2009. Featured artists include Akon, B.o.B, Ke$ha, Avery Storm, Nayer, Lil Jon, The New Royales, Bass III Euro & Slim of 112. It is also his first major-label release, his first album to be released on his own...
, Pitbull released "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
"I Know You Want Me " is a song by rapper Pitbull released as the second single from the album, Rebelution. The song samples "75, Brazil Street" by Nicola Fasano versus Pat Rich, which itself samples "Street Player" by Chicago. The core is from a song by Dominican rappers El Cata and Omega. The...
" through Ultra Records
Ultra Records
Ultra Records is an American independent electronic dance music record label. Ultra was formed in New York City in 1995 by former Polygram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey, who is still currently the owner...
after his former label TVT Records went out of business. "Krazy" peaked at No.30 on the Hot 100 and No.11 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts. "I Know You Want Me" peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100 and peaked within the top ten spots of charts in the UK, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The song reached No.1 in France and the European Hot 100 on the week ending August 29, 2009 according to Billboard magazine. On Dec. 11, 2009, Billboard announced their Year-End Canadian Update, placing "I Know You Want Me" at No.7 on the Hot 100 chart and No.2 on the CHR/Top 40 chart. He later signed with Polo Grounds Music
Polo Grounds Music
Polo Grounds Music is a hip hop and R&B record label Polo Grounds Music is a full service entertainment company with a focus in publishing, management, marketing and promotions...
through Sony Music and created his own label Mr. 305 Inc. Other singles included "Blanco", featuring Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
of The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
, and "Hotel Room Service
Hotel Room Service
"Hotel Room Service" is a song by rapper Pitbull released as the third single from his fourth album, Rebelution. The song samples "Push the Feeling On" by Nightcrawlers as well as "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. It was released to both iTunes and mainstream radio on June 16, 2009...
", which samples "Push the Feeling On
Push the Feeling On
"Push the Feeling On" is a 1992 song recorded by the British house music group Nightcrawlers. It was the first single from its album Let's Push It. The song was initially issued in the United Kingdom, but it was only a hit in the US when it was released there in 1993. It proved to be a greater...
" and which peaked at No.9 on the Hot 100. On their second collaboration since "Go Girl", Pitbull appeared on the debut single of rapper David Rush (formerly Young Bo$$), "Shooting Star
Shooting Star (David Rush song)
"Shooting Star" is the debut solo single of hip hop artist David Rush, from his debut release Feel the Rush Vol. 1. It features Kevin Rudolf, LMFAO, and rapper Pitbull. The single version of the song is the "Party Rock" remix of the original song, which features LMFAO.-Music video:Universal...
", also with Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
and LMFAO
LMFAO (band)
LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs Redfoo and SkyBlu . The group formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Redfoo is SkyBlu's uncle. Redfoo is also the son of music mogul Berry Gordy, SkyBlu a grandson...
. An amateur video of Pitbull punching a disruptive audience member at a Colorado concert leaked on the Internet in late May 2009. Pitbull explained to MTV News that it was because the fan kept throwing cash around the stage, and after Pitbull pulled him up to the stage, he threw a stash of money right in Pitbull's face. He has been tapped by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to work alongside T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
& Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
to release a new fight song for the Dolphins. The city of Miami granted Pitbull a "Key to the City" honor on August 19.
In 2010, Pitbull performed the rap section in the Haiti benefit song "Somos El Mundo", a Spanish version of "We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
", that included a huge group of Latin artists led by Emilio and Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
. He was also a featured guest on "Armada Latina
Armada Latina
"Armada Latina" is the fourth single from Cypress Hill's studio album, Rise Up . It features Cuban rapper Pitbull and Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony, it was released on March 2, 2010. The song samples the fourth portion of the 1969 song Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.-Music video:The music video directed...
", the fourth single off the album Rise Up
Rise Up (Cypress Hill album)
Rise Up is the eighth studio album by Cypress Hill, which was released on April 20, 2010. It is their first album of new material in six years, following 2004's Till Death Do Us Part, and their first to be released on EMI's Priority Records, their first venture away from Columbia, who handled all...
by Latin rap legends, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
. The song was produced by Jim Jonsin
Jim Jonsin
James Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy award winning record producer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur...
and also features Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
. Pitbull then collaborated with Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
on the single "All Night Long
All Night Long (Alexandra Burke song)
"All Night Long" is an uptempo song performed by British pop/R&B singer Alexandra Burke taken from her debut studio album, Overcome . The song was written and produced by production team, The Runaways...
". He was also featured on "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love
DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love
"DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" is a song by recording artist Usher and features guest vocals from American rapper Pitbull. It was written by Savan Kotecha, Pitbull, Shellback and Max Martin, with the latter two producing it. It is the first single from Usher's EP, Versus...
" by Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
.
Pitbull also released his full-length debut Spanish-language album titled Armando on November 2, 2010. Pitbull is also one of the most nominated artists of the upcoming Latin Billboard awards. He garnered 7 nominations for “Latin Rhythm Airplay, Song of the Year” for “Bon, Bon
Bon, Bon (Pitbull song)
"Bon, Bon" is a song by American rapper Pitbull from his fifth studio album, Armando. It was released as the album's third official single on October 25, 2010. The single peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Billboard Top Latin Songs...
”; “Latin Rhythm Airplay, Artist of the Year, Solo Artist”; “Latin Rhythm Albums, Album of the Year” for Armando
Armando
The name Armando may be in reference to:* Armando , the name used by Dutch artist Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd* Armando , studio album by rapper Pitbull* Armando , writer at Daily Kos...
; “Latin Rhythm Albums, Artist of the Year, Solo Artist”; “Social 50, Latin Artist of the Year”; “Latin Digital Download of the Year” for “Bon, Bon
Bon, Bon (Pitbull song)
"Bon, Bon" is a song by American rapper Pitbull from his fifth studio album, Armando. It was released as the album's third official single on October 25, 2010. The single peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Billboard Top Latin Songs...
” and “Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event” for the song “I Like It
I Like It
"I Like It" is the second single by Liverpudlian band Gerry & the Pacemakers. Like Gerry Marsden's first number one, it was written by Mitch Murray. The song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 22 June 1963, where it stayed for four weeks....
” alongside Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
. He also won Telehit’s award for “Most Popular Artist”.
2011–present: Planet Pit
Pitbull released his highly anticipated follow-up English album, Planet PitPlanet Pit
Planet Pit is the sixth studio album by American rapper Pitbull, released on June 17, 2011, on J Records, and RCA Records. Production was handled by a variety of pop, and hip hop producers including David Guetta, RedOne, Dr. Luke, Jim Jonsin, and Soulshock. Musically, the album was created with the...
, on June 21, 2011. Pitbull collaborated with T-Pain on its first single, "Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
"Hey Baby " is a song by American rapper Pitbull featuring T-Pain. It was released on September 14, 2010 as the lead single from Pitbull's sixth studio album Planet Pit. The song was written by Pitbull, T-Pain, and Sandy Vee, and it was produced by Sandy Vee...
". Pitbull announced he’s the spokesperson for Voli Vodka, in which he holds a majority equity stake. Pitbull has also collaborated with Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
on her single "On the Floor
On the Floor
"On the Floor" is a song by American recording artist and actress Jennifer Lopez, featuring Latin American rapper Pitbull. It was released by Island Records on February 11, 2011, as the lead single from Lopez's seventh studio album, Love?...
". On March 22, 2011, Pitbull released his second single, "Give Me Everything
Give Me Everything (Pitbull song)
"Give Me Everything" is a song by American rapper Pitbull, released on March 18, 2011 as the second single from his sixth studio album, Planet Pit . It was written by Matt Howard, American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, Dutch producer and DJ Afrojack. Ne-Yo and Nayer feature on the song, while Afrojack...
" featuring Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Afrojack
Afrojack
Nick van de Wall, born 9 September 1987, commonly known by his stage name Afrojack, is a Grammy Award winning Dutch music producer and DJ. Born and raised in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, He was listed as number 7 on DJ Mags top 100 DJs of 2011...
and Nayer
Nayer
Nayer Regalado better known mononymously as Nayer, is an American singer-songwriter and model. She is best known as a featured artist on Pitbull's 2011 hit single "Give Me Everything."- Early life and career :...
, and three months later, the song became Pitbull's first single to top the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. On May 2, 2011, Pitbull and Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
appeared on WWE Monday Night RAW to celebrate Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's birthday. Pitbull appeared as musical guest on Conan on August 1, 2011. On August 22, 2011, Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
sued Pitbull, Ne-Yo and Afrojack in response to "Give Me Everything"'s lyrics referencing her name.
On October 7, RCA Music Group
RCA Music Group
RCA Music Group was an umbrella group of labels distributed by Sony Music Entertainment that existed between March 2004 and 2009 and for a short period of time between July 2011 and October 2011 until all RCA Music Group labels were merged with RCA Records....
announced it was disbanding J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
along with Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
and Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
. With the shutdown, Pitbull (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release his future material on the RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
brand.
Discography
- M.I.A.M.I.M.I.A.M.I.M.I.A.M.I. is the debut studio album by rapper Pitbull. The album was released on August 3, 2004, and peaked at number 14 on the U.S...
(2004) - El MarielEl MarielEl Mariel is the second studio album by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. It features production from Lil Jon, Diaz Brothers, DJ Khaled, Mr. Collipark, The Neptunes and Jim Jonsin. It includes guest appearances from Lil Jon, Twista and Trick Daddy...
(2006) - The BoatliftThe Boatlift-References:.......
(2007) - RebelutionRebelution (Pitbull album)Rebelution is the fourth studio album by Miami rapper Pitbull, released on August 28, 2009. Featured artists include Akon, B.o.B, Ke$ha, Avery Storm, Nayer, Lil Jon, The New Royales, Bass III Euro & Slim of 112. It is also his first major-label release, his first album to be released on his own...
(2009) - ArmandoArmando (Pitbull album)Armando is the first Spanish studio album by Miami rapper Pitbull. It was released on November 2, 2010.Three songs have been released as singles and receive airplay on Spanish radio and in Latin American countries....
(2010) - Planet PitPlanet PitPlanet Pit is the sixth studio album by American rapper Pitbull, released on June 17, 2011, on J Records, and RCA Records. Production was handled by a variety of pop, and hip hop producers including David Guetta, RedOne, Dr. Luke, Jim Jonsin, and Soulshock. Musically, the album was created with the...
(2011)