Pitbull El Mariel CD - Import

Miami's Pitbull brings together the sound of reggaeton, Miami bass, and Dirty South rap, delivering a hard-hitting style that appeals to a number of hip-hop factions. EL MARIEL (the title is a reference to a harbor in Miami famous for receiving Cuban immigrants) is Pitbull's sophomore release, and the artist represents for both Miami and his Cuban heritage with his unique mixture of styles. The two singles that preceded the album's release--"Bojangles" and "Ay Chico"--are fierce, club-ready bangers, and production and guest appearances from Lil Jon, Wyclef Jean, the Neptunes, the Ying Yang Twins, and others prove that the artist, even this early on, is playing on a world-class hip-hop stage.Spin (p.100) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "EL MARIEL is ultimately a grand party -- loud, noisy fun from an underrated MC with a captivating flow."
Entertainment Weekly (p.79) - "Producers including Lil Jon and the Neptunes solder industrial-strength Southern synths to an assortment of swaying Latin Caribbean rhythms." -- Grade: B
Q (p.102) - "[The album] retro-fits booty's booming bass drums with Jamaican dancehall on 'Descarada', while 'Be Quiet''s synths nod to crunk..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.105) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n exciting collection of tracks, and Pitbull's new-found focus gives the record direction."