Pitbull (rapper) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pitbull
Pitbull in 2023
Born	Armando Christian Pérez (1981-01-15) January 15, 1981 (age 44) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Other names	Mr. 305 Mr. Worldwide
Education	Miami Coral Park High School
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter businessman actor
Years active	2000–present
Works	Discography
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Hip hop Latin hip hop reggaeton pop
Labels	RCA Polo Grounds Mr. 305 Inc. Sony Latin Radical by The Orchard Poe Boy Bad Boy Latino Ultra J TVT Luke

Armando Christian Pérez (born January 15, 1981), known as Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is also called Mr. 305 and Mr. Worldwide. He started his music career in the early 2000s, performing reggaeton and Latin hip hop.

Pitbull signed with TVT Records and released his first album, M.I.A.M.I., in 2004. His music became very popular with his fourth album, Pitbull Starring in Rebelution (2009). This album included hit songs like "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and "Hotel Room Service". These songs reached high spots on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Later, Pitbull changed his style to include more pop sounds. His albums Planet Pit (2011) and Global Warming (2012) were very successful. "Give Me Everything" (with Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer) became his first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. His song "Timber" (with Kesha) also hit number one in many countries.

Pitbull has sold over 25 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide. He has billions of views on YouTube. Billboard magazine named him one of the top artists of the 2010s. Besides music, Pitbull is a businessman and helps his community. He owns a NASCAR racing team called Trackhouse Racing.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Armando Christian Pérez was born on January 15, 1981, in Miami, Florida. His parents were immigrants from Cuba. They taught him to use the chances he had in America. His family had a history of standing up against the government in Cuba. When he was three, he could already recite poems in Spanish. He learned English by watching Sesame Street.

Pitbull's parents separated when he was young, and his mother raised him. He went to South Miami Senior High School and Miami Coral Park High School. He loved Miami bass music and was inspired by artists like Celia Cruz and Willy Chirino. Rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg also influenced him. He said that growing up in Miami, a city with many different cultures, helped him try new sounds in his music.

He chose the name Pitbull because these dogs "bite to lock." He said they are "too stupid to lose" and are like him because they keep fighting. In 2002, Pitbull met Lil Jon in Miami. He was featured on Lil Jon's album Kings of Crunk. Pitbull's song "Oye" was also in the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003. He also released many mixtapes with his own songs and remixes.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Luke Records and TVT Records

In 2001, Pitbull signed with Luther Campbell's Luke Records. He then met Robert Fernandez, who helped him make his music more suitable for radio. Fernandez helped Pitbull connect with Lil Jon. Lil Jon liked Pitbull and featured him on a track called "Pitbull's Cuban Ride Out." This helped Pitbull become more known.

First Album: M.I.A.M.I. (2004)

In 2004, Pitbull released his first album, M.I.A.M.I.. The first song was "Culo". It reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other songs from the album included "Back Up" and "Toma". He also went on the Anger Management Tour with famous rappers like Eminem and 50 Cent.

In 2005, Pitbull and Sean 'Diddy' Combs started Bad Boy Latino. This music label focuses on Latin music styles like hip hop and pop. Pitbull helps find new artists for the label.

El Mariel and The Boatlift (2006–2007)

In 2006, Pitbull released his second album, El Mariel. He dedicated this album to his father, who had passed away. The album included party songs and some with political messages. El Mariel was very successful, reaching number one on the Billboard independent albums chart.

His third album, The Boatlift, came out in 2007. It featured songs like "Go Girl" and "The Anthem". These songs also did well on the music charts. Pitbull also had his own TV show called Pitbull's La Esquina from 2007 to 2009.

Breakthrough with Rebelution and Armando (2008–2010)

Pitbull's fourth album, Pitbull Starring in Rebelution, was a huge success. The song "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" became a worldwide hit. It reached number two on the Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and number one in France. Another hit from the album was "Hotel Room Service".

In 2010, Pitbull sang in "Somos El Mundo," a Spanish version of "We Are the World" to help Haiti. He also worked with Usher on the song "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love". Later that year, Pitbull released his first album entirely in Spanish, called Armando. He received many awards for his Latin music.

Planet Pit and Global Warming (2011–2013)

Pitbull performing in 2011

In 2011, Pitbull released Planet Pit. The song "Give Me Everything" with Ne-Yo, Nayer, and Afrojack became his first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

His seventh album, Global Warming, came out in 2012. He said the title meant that he had been around for a while, and now people were really noticing him. The album included "Feel This Moment" featuring Christina Aguilera, which was a top ten hit. Pitbull also sang "Back in Time" for the movie Men in Black 3.

In 2013, Pitbull released an extended version of Global Warming called Global Warming: Meltdown. It featured the song "Timber" with Kesha, which became a number-one hit in 18 countries. He also hosted the 2013 American Music Awards.

Globalization and Dale (2014–2015)

Pitbull performing with Enrique Iglesias in 2015

Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte performed "We Are One (Ole Ola)" at the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This song was the official theme for the World Cup.

Pitbull (left) with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte performing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

In 2014, Pitbull released his eighth album, Globalization. It included the hit song "Time of Our Lives" with Ne-Yo, which reached number nine on the Hot 100. He also released Spanish songs like "Como Yo Le Doy."

In 2015, Pitbull released his second Spanish album, Dale. This album won him a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.

Recent Music and Tours (2015–Present)

Pitbull continued to release new music, including his album Climate Change in 2017. He also released a Pitbull Greatest Hits album. In 2018, he released a soundtrack album for the movie Gotti.

In 2019, Pitbull's song "Slowly Slowly" with Indian singer Guru Randhawa became very popular online. His eleventh album, Libertad 548, was released in 2019. It featured hit songs like "No Lo Trates" with Daddy Yankee and Natti Natasha.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pitbull released "I Believe That We Will Win (World Anthem)." This song aimed to encourage people during the difficult time. He donated all money from the song to charities.

Pitbull has continued to tour, including the "I Feel Good Tour" in 2021 and the "Can't Stop Us Tour" in 2022. In 2023, he released his twelfth album, Trackhouse, which reached number one on the U.S. iTunes Latin Album Charts.

Business and Community Work

Pitbull has worked with many big brands. In 2010, he joined campaigns for Kodak and Dr Pepper. He also became a spokesperson for Voli Vodka, a company he later bought. In 2012, he visited Kodiak, Alaska, for a Walmart event after fans voted for the remote city.

In 2015, Pitbull started his own radio channel on Sirius XM Radio called Pitbull's Globalization Radio. This channel plays music from artists around the world. He also partnered with Boost Mobile for advertising campaigns aimed at Spanish-speaking communities.

In 2021, Pitbull became a co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team. In 2023, he also invested in a restaurant chain called Cilantro Taco Grill.

Pitbull cares deeply about helping the Latino community. He focuses on education to help close the poverty gap. In 2013, he helped start a free public school called Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM!) in Miami. This school helps middle and high school students and has a high graduation rate. SLAM! schools now operate in several cities across the U.S.

After Hurricane Maria caused damage in Puerto Rico, Pitbull used his private plane to fly cancer patients from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland for medical care. He also speaks out against the government in Cuba and supports protests for freedom.

Discography

• 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)

Concert Tours

• 2009–2011: Rebelution Tour
• 2012: Planet Pit World Tour
• 2013: North American Tour 2013 (with Kesha)
• 2015: Pitbull Live in Hong Kong
• 2016: The Bad Man Tour (with Prince Royce and Farruko)
• 2017: Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull Live! (with Enrique Iglesias)
• 2021: I Feel Good Tour (with Iggy Azalea)
• 2022: Can't Stop Us Now Tour (with Iggy Azalea and Sean Paul)
• 2023: The Trilogy Tour (with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin)
• 2024: The Trilogy Tour 'The Party Continues' (with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin)
• 2024: Party After Dark Tour

Opening Act

• 2018: Britney Spears – Piece of Me Tour

Residencies

• 2015–2019: Pitbull: Time of Our Lives
• 2020 PPD: Pitbull: Get Ready Vegas

Virtual Concert Series

• 2020: Pitbull: Live & Timeless

Film and Television Appearances

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Pitbull (cantante) para niños