The Pit Bull Terrier has been preceded by its somewhat unwarranted reputation from the moment it was introduced to American shores by the English sometime during the early 1800s. And although he was born and raised in Miami, Pitbull (neé Armando Christian Pérez) has been fighting a similar battle from the moment 2 Live Crew founder Luther Campbell introduced him to the Hip Hop world.

Those who are quick to dismiss Pitbull's sound as merely “bilingual booty-shake music” would do well to remember that this dog's pedigree runs deep. Having family members involved in The Cuban Revolution, Operation Peter Pan and the El Mariel boatlift means that Pit knows a thing or two about strategy. With the fourth quarter release of his third album, The Boatlift, and the rapper finds himself at the proverbial crossroads every entertainer eventually comes to. Since he's never been a fan of gaudy jewelry anyway, we let him off the chain to discuss music, politics and culture. It's anything but "politics as usual," so watch your culo.

HipHopDX: What’s your mind state on this new album?
Pitbull: My mentality has always been to knock the record out, put it out or whatever, and then throw it out there. I call it The Boatlift ‘cause I feel everybody, somehow or someway, came to this country in a boat lift. If not then they’re running across a border trying to get here. With that said, this album is my way of giving them freedom through music. It’s my boat lift. It’s my way of taking them on a ride.

DX: Both the title of this album and the previous one make reference to the El Mariel Boatlift of 1980, which your late father played a role in. For those who don’t know, can you explain the significance of that event?
P: It’s very significant because my father was involved in bringing three boats over from Cuba. He brought 547 people to freedom in Miami. There were 125,000 refugees that came over from Cuba during the boat lift, which lasted from a six-to-eight-month period if I’m not mistaken. It’s a vital part of Hip Hop because the whole movie Scarface was based on the boat lift. Everybody knows Scarface because it’s a story about going from nothing to something, which we all come from in Hip Hop. And [Tony Montana] was sort of like the good guy and the bad guy, which we all like in Hip Hop also. I’m not trying to be Scarface or Tony Montana. I’m trying to live more like [Alejandro] Sosa—if they wanna take that movie and depict it for its attributes. That's basically Pitbull in a nutshell. I'm low key and proper when I have to be and a street when I have to be type of guy.

DX: There's an interesting balance there. Your family has very deep political roots, but your music reflects the Miami party scene reminiscent of 2 Live Crew in the early '90s.
P: Well I'm from Miami, born and raised. So, everything I tell you I've seen in the clubs, I've really seen it. If I talk about experiencing something in the street, then I've really experienced it. It's basically my biography on a record. Do I know how to make freaky records and shit that's gonna make the women lose their mind? Yeah, I know how to do that shit 'cause I've been raised around it and there's a bunch of freaky motherfuckers down here in Miami.

But, as far as you say I’m striking a balance politically, that's how I capture people. If I don't hit you one way I'll hit you another way. Just know that you'll become a Pitbull fan by the end of it. You will say, "Damn I thought he was only doing some old pussy records like 'Toma' and 'Culo,'" until I hit you with "Blood Is Thicker Than Water," "Hustler's Withdrawal" or "Ya Se Acabo," which is a record about Castro. Then you'll go, "Damn he really put it down any way he wants to flip it."

I would love to do Kanye West [type] music and shit like that. But I gotta find my niche and how to get in. It's like a dope boy on the block. If you know them boys are over there selling yay, and they shit is fire, and these boys over here selling smack, and some other boys are over here selling regular weed or whatever they're doing, then you might have to come through with that kryppie. It might not be what I wanna sell at the time, but it got me on the block and people are noticing what I'm doing. From there you can take it to the next level. That's why I say I think it's only the beginning as far as what we're about to do. The reason I say, "We," is because without no Team Pitbull behind me, there ain't no Pitbull.

DX: Given those facts, when you name the album after an historical event and then include songs named "Sticky Icky" and "Dukey Love," are you trying to trick people into learning something?
P: It's like entertainment slash education. Like I said, it depends on how you look at it. You've got records on there with Trick Daddy, Jim Jones, Lloyd and Lil Jon. I just know how to make hit records and make music at the end of the day. That's what's gonna keep me hot out there. Of course there's a point in your career where you cater to [people] and then you get catered to. I feel like I'm still out there catering. I still gotta be out there giving the people what they want...always. Then it's going to get to a point where they just don't hear Pitbull they listen to Pitbull. I'd rather a slow grind but a for sure grind than have it come quick and leaver quicker. That's basically what I'm doing. We're laying the bricks little by little and building a foundation. Continued on page 2 »