Pitbull was born Armando Christian Pérez on January 15, 1981, in Miami, Florida.
Growing up in Little Havana, Pitbull was heavily influenced by the Latin music scene.
Pitbull's music career spans over two decades, with his first album released in 2004.
Pitbull's breakthrough single "Culo" was released in 2004, but it was his 2009 single "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" that brought him mainstream success.
Pitbull has collaborated with numerous artists, including Kesha, Chris Brown, and Jennifer Lopez.
Some of Pitbull's most notable works include the albums "Rebelution" and "Global Warming", which were both released in 2010.
Pitbull has also made appearances in various films and television shows, including "The Smurfs" and "Glee".
Early Life and Career
Pitbull was born Armando Christian Perez on January 15, 1981, in Miami, Florida.
He was raised by his mother, who encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunities living in America provided, and he learned English by watching Sesame Street as a child.
Pitbull's family has a history of fighting against the Castro regime in Cuba, and he was influenced by the Miami bass genre of pop music and rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.
He developed a passion for hip-hop and showcased his lyrical prowess whenever possible, even going so far as to battle-rap a member of the Ruff Ryder crew on the set of a DMX video.
Pitbull's father was largely absent from his childhood, and he was kicked out of his home by his mother at age 16, leading him to briefly live with a foster family in Roswell, Georgia.
He attended South Miami Senior High School and Miami Coral Park High School before graduating and choosing the stage name Pitbull, inspired by the aggressive dogs that are "too stupid to lose" their fights.
Pitbull's early career was marked by his efforts to pursue a recording career, which caught the attention of rapper and producer Luke Campbell, who included him on his 2001 album Somethin' Nasty and brought him on tour through the South.
Recommended read: Is Pitbull Good Family Dog
Music Career
Pitbull's bilingual skills were showcased in his early work, and he continued to build his fan base through collaborations with artists like the Ying Yang Twins, Twista, and Flo Rida. He joined Sean Combs' Bad Boy Latino imprint, which led to the release of the follow-up albums El Mariel (2006) and The Boatlift (2007).
His fourth album, Pitbull Starring in Rebelution, dropped in 2009 and featured the hit singles "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and "Hotel Room Service." The album was a commercial success, and Pitbull's collaborations with Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez further solidified his status as a global artist.
Here's a list of Pitbull's studio albums:
- M.I.A.M.I. (2004)
- El Mariel (2006)
- The Boatlift (2007)
- Pitbull Starring in Rebelution (2009)
- Armando (2010)
- Planet Pit (2011)
- Global Warming (2012)
- Globalization (2014)
- Dale (2015)
- Climate Change (2017)
- Libertad 548 (2019)
- Trackhouse (2023)
Pitbull's music is indeed global music, as he puts it, and it's music for everybody. He believes that if he can make you escape for three minutes, then he's done his job.
Discography and Tours
Pitbull has a diverse discography spanning over two decades. He released his debut album M.I.A.M.I. in 2004.
Some of his notable albums include El Mariel, The Boatlift, and Planet Pit, which showcase his evolution as an artist.
Here's a list of Pitbull's studio albums in chronological order:
- M.I.A.M.I. (2004)
- El Mariel (2006)
- The Boatlift (2007)
- Pitbull Starring in Rebelution (2009)
- Armando (2010)
- Planet Pit (2011)
- Global Warming (2012)
- Globalization (2014)
- Dale (2015)
- Climate Change (2017)
- Libertad 548 (2019)
- Trackhouse (2023)
Pitbull has also been on several high-profile tours throughout his career.
Concert Tours
Pitbull has had an impressive run of concert tours throughout his career. He's performed with some big names, including Kesha and Enrique Iglesias.
One of his earliest notable tours was the Rebelution Tour from 2009-2011. He also embarked on the Planet Pit World Tour in 2012.
Pitbull has collaborated with other artists on their tours, such as Enrique Iglesias on the Enrique Iglesias – ... and Love Tour from 2014-2015. He's also performed with Iggy Azalea on the I Feel Good Tour in 2021 and the Can't Stop Us Now Tour in 2022.
Some of his other notable tours include the North American Tour 2013 with Kesha, the Pitbull Live in Hong Kong show in 2015, and the Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull Live! tour in 2017.
Here are some of Pitbull's notable concert tours:
- Rebelution Tour (2009-2011)
- Planet Pit World Tour (2012)
- North American Tour 2013 (with Kesha)
- Pitbull Live in Hong Kong (2015)
- The Bad Man Tour (with Prince Royce and Farruko) (2016)
- Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull Live! (with Enrique Iglesias) (2017)
- I Feel Good Tour (with Iggy Azalea) (2021)
- Can't Stop Us Now Tour (with Iggy Azalea and Sean Paul) (2022)
- The Trilogy Tour (with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin) (2023)
- The Trilogy Tour 'The Party Continues' (with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin) (2024)
2011: Planet Pit
In April 2011, Jennifer Lopez released Love?, which featured Pitbull on two singles, including the hit "On the Floor".
Pitbull's album Planet Pit dropped on June 17, 2011.
The album's first single, "Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)", was a moderate hit, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Pitbull's second single from Planet Pit, "Give Me Everything", was a huge success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 three months after its release.
This song was a collaboration with Ne-Yo, Nayer, and Afrojack, who also produced and co-wrote it.
Lindsay Lohan sued Pitbull, Ne-Yo, and Afrojack in August 2011 over the song's lyrics referencing her name, which she claimed had a negative connotation.
The case was eventually dismissed by a federal judge, who ruled that the lyrics were protected by the First Amendment.
In October 2011, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records, Arista Records, and Jive Records, and Pitbull would release future material on the RCA Records brand.
For your interest: First Pitbull Dog
Notable Works and Ventures
Pitbull has a diverse range of ventures outside of music. He endorses many products, including Bud Light, Kodak, and Dr. Pepper.
In 2013, Pitbull released his own line of fragrances. This was just one of many business ventures he's pursued.
He's also been involved in ad campaigns for Walmart in 2015. This shows his ability to promote brands and reach a wide audience.
Pitbull is the spokesman and majority owner of Voli Vodka. He launched a new, customized radio channel for Sirius in May 2015 called "Pitbull's Globalization Radio."
Between 2017 and 2018, Pitbull earned $35 million from touring, endorsements, royalties, and more. This made him one of the ten highest-paid rappers in the world at the time.
In 2019, Pitbull joined Boost Mobile and created a series of ads to expand the brand into Spanish communities. He also featured in a Super Bowl commercial in 2020 alongside other famous musicians.
Pitbull became a co-owner of the NASCAR Cup Series team Trackhouse Racing in January 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the singer Pitbull Puerto Rican?
No, Pitbull is not Puerto Rican, but rather Cuban, as his parents are from Cuba. He was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents.
Who is Pit Bulls' wife?
Pitbull is not married and does not have a wife. He is currently single and has been linked to a few women in the past, including the mother of his two children.
Why is Pitbull the singer called Pitbull?
Pitbull's stage name refers to the breed of dog known for its tenacious and unyielding nature, which inspired the artist's determination and perseverance. He chose the name because it reflects the dog's "bite to lock" behavior, symbolizing his own unrelenting passion for music.
What is the Pitbull doing now?
Pitbull is currently touring and has 27 upcoming concerts. You can find their tour schedule and upcoming live performances below.
How rich is Pitbull the singer?
Pitbull's net worth is approximately $100 million as of 2024. His wealth comes from a successful music career, business ventures, and philanthropic efforts.
Sources
- first No. 1 single (billboard.com)
- extend the residency (lasvegasmagazine.com)
- 305 Worldwide (forbes.com)
- Pitbull Net Worth (celebritynetworth.com)
- pitbullmusic.com (pitbullmusic.com)
- "Pitbull performs in Kodiak" (nydailynews.com)
- The Big Hurt: Help us help Wal-Mart exile Pitbull to Alaska – Big Hurt (thephoenix.com)
- "Pitbull – Biography" (allmusic.com)
- "Pitbull Biography" (concerty.com)
- the original (dallasnews.com)
- "Pitbull Drops Powerful New Anthem and Donates All Proceeds Against Coronavirus Effort" (musictimes.com)
- "Feature for November 20, 2007 - Pitbull's "The Boatlift"" (rapreviews.com)
- Pitbull Bio (pitbullupdates.com)
- Pitbull (rapper) Facts for Kids (kiddle.co)
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