Pitbull Talks Hip-Hop, Miami, Lil Jon

Miami rapper Pitbull hopes 2005 will be a banner year, having recently landed a new endorsment deal with Sean John, along side P. Diddy, Lil Wayne, TI and Lloyd. The bilingual rapper recently released a new single "Toma" featuring Lil Jon and spoke of his strong latin roots. "When I was starting out in Miami, […]

Miami rapper Pitbull

hopes 2005 will be a banner year, having recently landed a new endorsment deal

with Sean John, along side P. Diddy, Lil Wayne, TI and Lloyd.

The bilingual rapper

recently released a new single "Toma" featuring Lil Jon and spoke

of his strong latin roots.

"When I was

starting out in Miami, other rappers were afraid to speak Spanish," Pitbull

told AllHipHop.com. "They thought it was corny. That’s the reason that

Luke signed me in ’99, cause I did English and Spanish."

Pitbull stayed

with Luke Skywalker Records until his contract expired and then decided to sign

with TVT records.

With influences

from Dade County, Atlanta, Bass, and Latin music Pitbull continues to think

smart.

"TVT lets

me do me," Pitbull said. "My approach is different. My style is versatile.

I’m not pigeon holed as an artist."

On his debut TVT

Records release M.I.A.M.I. (Money Is A Major Issue), which is approaching

gold record sales, Pitbull worked with the Diaz Brothers who have been producing

for him since 2001.

He also worked

with producers Jim Johnson and his lablemate Lil Jon.

"Jon knows

what the people want. If your music isn’t playing in the clubs, you might as

well stop making music," Pitbull said.

Rappers featured

on the album are Trick, Fat Joe, Picalo, and Obie.

His vicious lyrics

give him street credibility and the popularity needed to make it in today’s

industry.

"My goal is

to rock n**gas in the north. At first they didn’t want to let us [southern rappers]

in, but we learned how to rap and now we’re taking this s### over," he

continued. "I can’t wait to go to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, with a bunch

of Chevys kitted up with different interiors, and show them how we do it in

Miami.