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| Pitbull |
Many very famous entertainers have come from humble beginnings. They are usually talented folks who are discovered by an executive and then they are on the way to the top. There are countless stories like this in the music industry. However, this week we will consider rapper/singer Pitbull. The thirty-one year old international artist was born Armando Christian Perez right here in Miami, Fl to Cuban born parents. Pitbull’s childhood was not without troubles. His parents separated when he was young, he spent time in a foster home and his mother kicked him out of her home at seventeen after he became a drug dealer. This seems like a great deal of adversity to overcome but Pitbull prevailed despite the tough start. Not only did he have a tough start in general, but as a rapper he encountered problems because he was a white Cuban-American. Conversely, the problem of being white and Cuban-American is the catalyst that has propelled him to international superstardom. Why? Pitbull has been able to cross into several musical genres and find a diversified audience for his music. Amazingly here in Miami I cannot remember anyone saying they don’t like Pitbull. Yes, he is a congregator within South Florida’s multi-cultural metropolitan area, and he also has wide appeal on the world stage. One other point working in Pitbull’s favor is his ability to work with so many different artists. He is the most nominated artist at the upcoming Latin Billboard Awards working with some of the more popular Latin artists such as Enrique Iglesias and Marc Anthony. Pitbull is just as comfortable performing with Lil Jon, Pharrell and Chris Brown. I just love what he said about selecting the stage name Pitbull. He said, “pit bulls bite to lock. The dog is too stupid to lose. And they’re outlawed in Miami-Dade County. They’re basically everything I am. It’s been a constant fight.” So true! The fight is a little different now because Pitbull has made it to the top of the music industry mountain. In the entertainment industry one must still fight to stay on top. Pitbull certainly works very hard. This dog’s bite might be worse than his bark.