From the Kennel to the
Streets: Pitbull Brings Miami Heat
9/27/06 - LatinRapper.com exclusive interview (first
&
third interviews)
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Its been two years since we last spoke with Pitbull, shortly
after the release of his debut album.
Unlike some rappers who
rest on their laurels, that "Lil Chico" from the M.I.A. stayed
on the grind with mixtapes and guest appearances.
The Cubano struck gold with his TVT debut, and this time
around may outdo his past success with his new album "El
Mariel", which drops October 31st, fueled by the singles "Bojangles",
Dime" and "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)". |
Pitbull took time out of a
busy schedule to speak with Latin Rapper about the new CD, his
2007 all-Spanish CD entitled "Armando", Bad Boy Latino,
possible television shows and more in this exclusive
interview.
LatinRapper.com: El Mariel has been pushed a good bit, any
particular reason for that?
Um hmm, the reason that it was pushed back was really more on
me, than anyone else, I just aint have the music ready for the
deadline. So that's what it was, but October 31st for sure, it
will be coming out.
Who produced the beats for the album?
Lil Jon, Mr. Collipark, Jim Johnson, a gang of folks on there.
Diaz Brothers, I can't even think of the rest.
How different is El Mariel from your last album?
I got more time to work on it. But also the last album had
records for the street, records for the club, records for the
women. Also have deep records, speaking about some things
that's going on in my life as we speak.
I think every album
that I put out is sorta like a roller coaster, a variety of
different music on it. Its not just one thing, like a melodic
album. Its gonna take you up, bring you down, take you up,
bring you down, that kinda record.
You mentioned recently that this album will put you in a whole
new light as an artist, is that from the variety?
That's what I think. I think its gonna open a lot of people's
eyes to Pitbull. Not only as the lyricist, but the variety of
music I get involved with. I got a record on there called "Hey
You Girl", that's just straight left field, Gnarls Barkley,
Outkast, you know, that type of s**t.
Then you got a record on
there like "Raindrops", a deep record speaking about certain
situations in my life. We got two singles out there now. We
got "Dime" with Ken-Y, produced by Lil Jon. Then I got "Ay
Chico" produced by Mr Collipark. One's like a Spanish ballad,
the other's an uptempo club record, what I'm known for.
Bojangles is the first single right?
Yeah, we shot a video to the remix with Lil Jon and the Ying
Yang twins. That's out there right now as we speak. But that
record been out almost like a year now, I was working that
record on my own without the label
What was the inspiration behind the song?
It was just the beat, man. When I first heard the beat, I was
like, 'man I gotta make sure I'm real catchy for the clubs.'
This beat is crazy, you know like (imitates song's drum beat).
That's how I came up with the whole "jigga jigga, call that
girl Bojangles", cause that's what Kaine did on Salt Shaker. I
was like, man, fits it perfect.
You mentioned Ken-Y, who else is appearing on the album?
Ken-Y's gonna be on there from Ken-Y and Rakim. Fat Joe,
Sinful, Trick, Rick Ross, Bun-B, Wyclef, Ying Yang, Lil Jon of
course. Some up and coming cats, Cubo, Bang, Red Eyes, a girl
singing on there called Anjuli Stars.
Is Cubo an understudy of yours?
Nah, he's doing his own thing. Good friend of mine for years,
he's coming out, you'll probably hear more from him within the
next year, year and a half.
I know you did the track "Ya Se Acabo" after Castro got ill,
is that going to be on the album?
Yeah, that will be on the album, right there.
Do you think that if Fidel passes, we're going to see a big
change on the island?
It depends on how the United States of America wants to get
involved. To me, I think he already passed, and they're just
lining all the ducks up right, so therefore there's no way to
pierce their armor as far as their ideas. The way they feel
about things, how they run their government. It could change a
whole lot, it could stay the same, at least its a sense of
hope.
The label Bad Boy Latino made a lot of news when it was
announced that you were involved, but we haven't heard
anything lately. What's the present situation?
Present story with that, basically what I do for them is like
nonexclusive consultant. If I want to bring them an artist, or
whatever. But they're launching their first artist now, Emilio
and Diddy, named Christian Daniel. You'll be hearing about the
kid, he's got great music.
As far as everything that went on
there, I got an opportunity to work with two men that I
idolize, honor and respect as far as business. There were just
certain ideas where we didn't see eye to eye. I just said,
other than us bumping heads, why not just do it like this.
That's the situation I got myself into with Bad Boy Latino.
So you're sort of an A&R?
Not an A&R... Yeah, I guess you can call it that.
If you had never started rapping, what would you be doing
right now?
Ah s**t, man, God knows. I know I'd be doing something I
shouldn't be doing (laughs)
Next year you'll release Armando, an all-Spanish album that
you said will have an Afro-Cuban feel, can you expand on that?
Basically anybody that's heard Afro-Cuban music, its music
that makes you shake, makes you dance, its got culture to it.
Instead of coming out with records like reggaeton and
everything that everyone's doing, I want to shed some light on
my culture, and keep people dancing and moving at the same
time, instill a message in the music.
What artists or producers are involved with Armando?
On the Spanish album, Lil Jon, Collipark, Jim Johnson, Diaz
Brothers, Echo from Puerto Rico. Right now, right now off the
top of my head, that's all I can think of. You know more and
more Hip Hop, Afro Cuban but still records that are gonna make
you - if not dance - think (laughs).
Echo, is that the same guy that produced "Si No Hay Pa' Mi"
for Don Dinero?
Yeah, he did that one, and he did also the one Tego and Don
Omar did together, Bandoleros.
You were supposed to be involved with the Scarface video game,
is that wrapped up?
I'm involved with that, they got me in there as a character.
You supposedly play yourself?
Yeah. They got me in like a strip club, I'm the guy you come
see. I'm not even sure, I'm one of the henchman.
Someone posted a clip of a new TV show you did on the
LatinRapper.com forums.
Yeah, something we're shopping to different stations. Nothing
final on that right there, its sort of like a pilot. I'm
shooting a bunch of pilots right now, different things. Just
hustling, like shopping a record, shopping TV shows now.
They'll see more of that, its called "La Esquina."
Anything you'd like to say to the fans?
As far as the fans, I say it all the time, without them
there's no Pitbull. I appreciate them always supporting me and
the movement. On the Mariel album, they can also find a DVD
attached to it, a bonus record, its gonna sort of show them
the life of Pitbull. Me on the road, performing. And then
click Mariel to give them an idea of what it was.
Pitbull official website:
http://www.pitbullmusic.com
Pitbull on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pitbull
Pitbull on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/PLANETPIT
Pitbull on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/pitbull
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