Armando Christian Pérez goes by many names: Lil’ Chico, Mr. 305, or Mr. Worldwide, but you may know him best as Pitbull. Pitbull was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban expatriates and continues to claim Miami as his home. Though he states that many people would call his childhood rough, he believes that the environment taught him everything he needed to know about sharing culture, making music and creating and sustaining his many businesses.
Since the start of his music career in 2001, Pitbull has become an internationally known rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and businessman. He is currently one of the most popular and influential artists in hip-hop, reggaeton and pop. One of Pitbull’s missions has been to produce tracks with worldwide Latin influence and appeal by drawing from musical styles from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and many more. He has achieved this goal through his solo work and through his many collaborations with Latin and hip-hop artists whose traditions draw from across Latin America.
Pitbull has achieved great success as both a recording artist and an active and passionate live performer. He was bestowed the honor of creating the official 2014 FIFA World Cup song with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte, which they performed during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Brazil. That same year, Pitbull also hosted and performed at the American Music Awards.
Florida has decorated Pitbull with many honors for his illustrious music career and his community outreach efforts within the state. In 2015, former Governor Rick Scott awarded Pitbull the Ambassador of the Arts Award, and Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado gave him the Key to the City of Miami and declared that January 15th would be Armando Pérez Day. Pitbull also holds an Honorary Degree from Doral College.
Beyond music, Pitbull has established himself as a savvy businessman with full or partial ownership in several projects. In the last few years, he has launched a fragrance line for men and women, started his own SiriusXM channel called Pitbull’s Globalization and teamed up with Horizon Media Inc. to create a multicultural marketing company called 305 Worldwide. Most notably, Pitbull also invested in educational opportunities for children, founding the Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) Charter School, which has been expanding since its inception in 2013.