Armando Christian Perez, better known as Pitbull has earned a reputation of being one of music’s versatile leading men. Pitbull’s major label debut, “Rebelution” made it’s debut at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the digital album chart, making it Pitbull’s highest U.S. debut to date. Singles from the album have dominated the charts, the first single “Hotel Room Service” made it to No. 8 and the international smash hit “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” achieved sales of more than 1.6 million digital singles and was the most watched music video on YouTube in 2009 with over 82 million views. Recently in 2009, Pitbull won the first ever “Latin Digital Download Artist of the Year” award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

In 2009, television audiences were first introduced to the Pitbull Rebelution when he performed “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” and “Hotel Room Service” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Pitbull also made unforgettable appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the MTV Video Music Awards.

Get ready for a Rebelution on Tuesday May 18, 2010 when PITBULL heats up the stage for one night only!


Official PITBULL Biography

It's only through struggle that resilience arises and for Armando Christian Perez, better known to the world as Pitbull, the past 5 years have seen the charismatic Cuban-American rapper evolve from an embattled upstart to become one of the most entertaining acts in all of hip-hop. With his public spat with former recording home TVT Records firmly in the past and ensconced in the success of his breakout hit "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," Pit is now ready to deliver his abundant talent to the masses with his major label debut, Rebelution, set for release through his Mr. 305 imprint via Polo Grounds Music/J/RCA Music Group. As an added bonus, his new deal also reunites him with his longtime A&R, Polo Grounds music executive Bryan Leach.

"I'm able to maneuver now," Pitbull says of the union. "I never had the chance to put out a classic album, dealing with the situation I was dealing with. With Rebelution, I want to be able to showcase my versatility to the full extent. Where everything I put out before had the big club sound—it's about making hit records, it's a business--but it's also about making statements. I want to take it to the next level. Everybody knows me, but I haven't been able to step in there and wow people. That's what I'm looking to do on this album and this run."

What Pitbull was able to do in the past, with three successful number one independent albums--including his Gold-certified debut LP, M.I.A.M.I.: Money Is A Major Issue (2004), El Mariel (2006), and The Boatlift (2007)--was earn a reputation as one of music's most versatile leading men. Through collaborations with super producer and TVT label mate Lil Jon, Pit scored a number of club smashes, including "Krazy" and “The Anthem." On his own accord, after his previous label home went bankrupt, Pitbull continued to be recognized for his work as he won the first ever "Latin Digital Download Artist of the Year" award at the 2009 Billboard Latin Music Awards after selling over 2.5 million singles in the past 12 months alone. He also notched four blistering tracks on the soundtrack to one of the summer's biggest movie, Fast & Furious (among them, "Blanco," featuring the Neptunes' Pharrell Williams) and was one of the first rappers ever to appear on new The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Despite his notable achievements, however, the Miami native eyed a bigger platform that was only fitting for a performer who can effortlessly slide across musical genres--rap, dance, pop, reggaton, Latin, and more--with his lyrical acrobatics.

"I've been surviving, but I haven't been able to take advantage of opportunities, to actually work with different people," Pit explains of the limited resources earlier in his career. "All these years have been training. It's been the school of hard knocks and now I'm gonna apply everything."

That fortitude is what inspired Pitbull to name his album Rebelution; the title represents a personal mantra as he embarks on a journey to establish himself as one of the greats.

"The word revolution is a strong word," he says. "And the word rebel is powerful. Because you're looking for change, that's what revolution is, but when you're a rebel in it, you're fighting for that change. And that's what my thing is, with everything I've been fighting through. I have to prove myself; I have to be a rebel."

And he's not wasting anytime. Rebelution's first official single, the scorching "Hotel Room Service" is Pitbull's second consecutive Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit, following "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)." The sexy, pulsating track, with its booming synths, was produced by Grammy-winning musician Jim Jonsin, whose credits include Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, and Lil Wayne. The Miami-based producer will serve as executive producer of Rebelution.

In addition to Jonsin, Pitbull worked with an array of talented collaborators on his project. Radio jock/E! Entertainment correspondent Clinton Sparks and DJ Snake produced "Shut It Down," featuring Akon. The future smash single has "chart-topper" written all over it; the pumping bass and synthesized funks sounds should instantly flood dance floors from the Bay to Beijing. "My life's a movie, call me Martin Scorsese/I could care less, if you love me or hate me," Pit chants on the song.

"Give 'Em What They Ask For," features Pit's fierce rhymes and showcases his potent ability as an MC. "If you want dope talk, trap talk, street talk, I'mma give it to you on this record right here, just cause people asked for it," Pit says of the track. "It's kind of like when you go back to the neighborhood and they say, 'Hey, this is the best fighter.' And you go, Ok, cool. I been out of here for five years, but lemme show what I can do, and boom, you knock them right out."

Rebelution also displays a side of Pitbull that hasn't always been visible to the public. "Daddy's Little Girl" is an emotional tribute to the many women who undeservedly suffer at the hands of men, either through abuse and growing up with absentee fathers. The ability that Pitbull has to traverse from topic to topic and create meaningful records is what led Leach to partner with the rapper once again.

"When I left TVT, people asked me which artist on the label would I take with me if I had the choice, because I signed Pitbull, Lil Jon, and the Ying Yang Twins," Leach says. "People thought I was gonna say Jon because he was the most successful. But I told them Pitbull. I felt like, at that point, Pit never had a major hit and to see how hungry he was and how close he was, it felt like once he broke though, he was gonna be around for a long time. His hustle was incredible. And now to see it actually happen. To me "Calle Ocho," for all intents and purposes, is his first major hit and he did it all by himself. I'm proud of him. It's satisfying, because it's really the second part of his career."

Pit agrees. Even though he has a track record that's been touted by industry heavyweights like Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell and Sean "Diddy" Combs, he feels the climate in music is now open for his brand of work.

"The music that I've created is more than urban, more than hip-hop, it's international," Pit says, excitedly. "To have a record that's number one in Canada, number one in France, number one in London, top 10 in Japan, for it to be worldwide, really. And it's been growing from the mixshows, from the underground, from the clubs. The foundation has been laid and now it's the time to take it to that next level. I say this is the beginning of my career. "

Pitbull hasn't just survived, he's flourished. Team Pitbull, an infrastructure he assembled to promote his music, including establishing a digital presence (PlanetPit.com), launching his record label (Mr. 305 Records), and maintaining his charitable efforts, is the proof. Yet, Pitbull's confidence is harnessed in the same humility he's had since day one. He's the rare type who has the spirit of the underdog combined with a winning pedigree.

"Now I get to be strategic about everything that I do as a businessman," he says. "There's been a lot of years I spent watching this game and going through the trials and errors. I messed up on a lot of things and a lot of the time I was right. But the way I see it, we haven't made it yet. I haven't really made it at all. Because the day I tell you I made it, then that means that's the time I'm on my way down."