Two years ago, he was just another struggling rapper. Today, Pitbull has signed up with two of the biggest forces in music, P. Diddy and Emilio Estefan, to create the Bad Boy Latino record label-and change the face of urban-Latin music.


If the Cuban American Pitbull is feeling the need to give back, perhaps it's because he can't forget just how far he has come. It was only a couple of years ago that he was trying to break into Miami's hip-hop scene, freestyling on street corners and sending mix tapes to radio stations. Today, at 24, he is not only one of rap's hottest acts (his latest single, "Toma," is burning up the charts), but he is also about to become one of the music industry's power players: In April, P. Diddy announced that he and Emilio Estefan ("an old-school gangsta," Pitbull calls him), had joined forces with Pitbull to create Bad Boy Latino, a new record label that will be part of his music and clothing empire-and to capitalize on the urban Latin music scene. world."

Although details of which artists the label will represent-acts that Pitbull will have a hand in signing, managing and promoting-are still under wraps, P. Diddy demonstrated his commitment to the deal by walking the red carpet with Pitbull at April's Billboard Latin Music Awards and telling reporters, "Call me Papi." The two business partners have been amigos since November, when P. Diddy caught a Pitbull show in Miami. "
Pitbull has just the right "skills and knowledge" to do it, points out his close friend, crunk king Lil Jon (whom he calls "Pequeño Juan"; he is called "My Cuban Cousin" in return). In only a year, Pitbull has crossed genres, performing alongside reggaeton master Daddy Yankee at New York City's Puerto Rican Day parade, and appearing on MTV2's Hip Hop Countdown. And even before the Bad Boy Latino deal, Pitbull was already a mogul in the making, designing sneakers for Reebok (with his hometown area code of 305) and licensing his image for the Scarface video game (the 1983 Al Pacino movie about Miami gangsters is a favorite).
Of course, like nearly all rappers, Pitbull tends toward racy lyrics that aren't exactly kind to women (or, namely, their rear ends). But he insists that he has the utmost respect for mujeres, pointing out that his strongest role model as a kid was his mother, Alysha Acosta, who raised him as a single parent. Born Armando Christian Perez, Pitbull says his father "wasn't there for me in my life" when he was growing up, and that his mother-who came to the United States via Operation Peter Pan, an effort organized by Miami's Catholic Welfare Bureau to get children out of communist Cuba-worked three jobs to make ends meet. In tribute to her, alongside tattoos of the faces of his son and daughter (with two different women), there is one on his left wrist in Chinese characters that reads, "DIM," which stands for, "Do it for mom." "It's what she always used to tell me when I was a kid," Pitbull says.

Apparently, that was all the motivation he needed.

Angel Dominguez, also known as Chico Black, 22 years of age, born and raised in the "heart of the streets of South Florida" better known as the Overtown and Allapatah areas.

Chico Black was brought up in a dysfunctional household, composed of his young mother and drug-dealing abusive stepfather. With not much of a father figure, he was surrounded by nothing other than difficult circumstances which failed to help him keep off the streets. Chico Black began "hustlin" at the early age of thirteen, facing robbery charges and finding himself in and out of jail.

"With so much pain and anger within" said Chico Black. He realizes he has the ability to express himself through words, converting his words to lyrics, applying them to beats and later observed free stylin' with his home boys. "That was a huge stepping stone for me" says Black. Chico Black discovered an exclusive interest towards music and acknowledges his own talent. It was then that he started composing music and joining other talented rappers in small home studios all over.


"But still the streets called me" explains Black. Making him feel it was nearly impossible to stay away. Needless, to say, Chico Black dropped out of high school and at the age of sixteen was sentenced to boot camp at Baypoint Academy. The time served at Baypoint was to this fellow rapper's advantage as it allowed him enough time off the streets and to reconsider past actions, choices made, deals gone wrong which led him to one outcome, Trouble. Chico analyzed his life and at that point focused on his studies which helped him acquire his G.E.D.

Soon after his release, he moved to the City of Hialeah, where he meets future Strictly Business Records members, Ralph Dominguez (a.k.a. Cook), Edson Osorio (a.k.a. Peanut) and DJ Gutta and immediately began working on his music in local studios.

But he was also back to the real world and "money is of essence", forcing Chico Black back onto the streets to do what was second nature to him, "hustlin".

Creating an enormous instability in Chico Black's life having no other choice but to relocate from city to city and being charged with a felony and facing a "real" jail time sentence. At this point, it was one of the most difficult parts of his short troublesome life.

Chico Black understood he had to set his grounds, putting everything he had achieved on hold. But Black's good will and positive outlook and his approach to a new life helped him seize his doubts. Chico Black hooked back up with Ralph Dominguez (Cook) who joined Strictly Business Records and brought Chico Black onto Jay, CEO of Strictly Business Records. From that day forth Chico Black was found in the studio putting in many hours of hard work into his now new mixtape hosted By Strictly Business' own DJ Gutta, appropriately named "STR8 Gutta" mixtape.

Chico Black hopes it will allow him to join other artists in collaborations and introduce the world to a new wave of music, which he has worked on so hard to achieve.

Please Support

The article from Yahoo is below. I hope other hip-hop artists follow suit. There's no need to buy a product from a company that doesn't want your support...
(From Yahoo )In response to comments made by Frederic Rouzaud, the managing director of Louis Roderer Cristal, Jay-Z and his upscale sports lounge, The 40/40 Club, have announced that they will no longer be serving Cristal Champagne and Jay-Z will further help lead the boycott against Cristal Champagne in the world of hip-hop.

Despite loyal patronage by Jay-Z, his clientele, and the entire hip-hop community, Rouzaud said in a special edition of The Economist magazine that the company observes its association with the rap world with "curiosity and serenity." Even though Jay and other rappers continually support the brand by including Cristal in their lyrics, as Jay did in his number 1 hit "Hard Knock Life," Rouzaud has labeled the name-checks as "unwelcome attention."

"It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frederic Rouzaud views the 'hip-hop' culture as "unwelcome attention." I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands including The 40/40 Club nor in my personal life," said Jay-Z.

Just as Rouzaud stated, "I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business," Jay-Z and the 40/40 Club

will now be serving only Krug and Dom Perignon to their customers seeking high end champagne products.

-Yahoo

Ross' Ringtone Hustle Goes Gold

Rick Ross couldn’t have been more serious when he said, “Everyday I’m Hustlin.’”

On Wednesday (June 21), the Miami MC received a golden cell phone plaque, as the RIAA certified his ringtone for his smash single, “Hustlin,’” gold.

"You want to do a record so catchy that everybody wants to go out and get it as a ringtone," “The ring tones are just another gateway to connecting with the kids and the fans. That's just the next level."

Ross now joins the powerful likes of 50 Cent, Beyonce, Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas for MCs that were honored by high ringtone sales.

"Just a few short years ago, it was unthinkable for sales on ringtones to go platinum," said RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol. "But here we are. We're transforming the way we hear our music."

A total of 84 artists were cited as gold winners, while 40 earned platinum ringtone certification. The awards are given based on downloads of the ringtones.

Ross’ debut album, Career Criminal, will hit stores later this summer.

Congrats to the Miami Heat For winning the NBA Finals!

Highlight

OC

A group that is made up of solo artists.. They are coming straight out of the 954 ...... And I have to say that guys are really putting in a lot of work. These guys are part of every event held at FAU and the surrounding unversity .The Hard work that these men are putting will pay off soon. Please check them out on myspace.

Mr Ross hits Palm Beach!?!?!?

Mr $1 Million signing bounus Rick Ross will be
LIVE @ NEWCOMB HALL, West Palm Beach. FRIDAY JUNE 23RD
Location: 200 EAST 13TH STREET - RIVERIA BEACH, FL (USA)
Friday, June 23, 2006
RICK ROSS @ NEWCOMB HALL W/ MANY MORE... DOORS OPEN @ 10 WITH A LIVE BROADCAST FROM X102.3. FOR MORE INFO CALL: 561-255-6882.

Please Support South Florida Hip Hop

This weekend I noticed there is a great number of South Florida talent out . That has not yet been support; Rappers Stash House , G.S.T, OC, Rashad the Truth ,Singers Angela , Connie and Jazzy the amount of talent that I have come across has just amazed me .With out the support of fellow South Floridians these talents will never make it out South Florida .So my plea to you is, Please call your local radio stations and request all the south Florida artist and lets put south Florida on the map .

G.S.T UP DATE

Sunday 6-4-06
G.S.T had a photo with the hottest photograher out of Broward county ......so keep looking at there myspacepage(MYSPACE.COM/1GST) to find out when their mix tape is coming out

GO DJ , GO DJ!!!!!

Congratulations to Dade Countys own DJ Khaled. His album "Listennn" hit stores today. I bought my copy today as I always do for Miami artists because Dade County needs as much support as possible. Slide through and buy a copy if you get the chance. 

It comes with a bonus DVD that has the making of the "Holla At Me Baby" video & a photo gallery.

Dj Khaled , Trina, Lil wayne , Rick Ross , Trick daddy will be at FyI in miami today between 5-6 pm

SUPPORT THE HOMETEAM!!! 3-0-5/M-I-Yayo ALL DAY!!! 


Highlight

Supa Soulja...You will never meet another nigga boulda !!!!!!If you are coming out of palm beach county;This is the man if you need a hot beat, have a show coming up and need promotion . Supa Soulja is the man you want to talk to .He is the central connect to anything in palm beach . I have to say that the best thing is to come ...His own album .Yes we have all heard him talking over the music tracks and re-doing the songs with his lyrics , but many people did not know that he is a rapper him self . In speaking to Supa " I have been give the people what they want in small bits it's time for me to give them something that they can say whoa his nigga can really rap " His Album is coming out July 4th . Some asked why the fourth that's because its a celebration .To purchase the album his visit his myspace page .
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SSTHEGREAT

Armando "Pitbull" Perez

Mr 305 !

I just got word that Armando "Pitbull" Perez father passed away over the weekend. 
My condolences to the family !

Pitbull's Album EL MARIEL coming out soon.

Highlight and Miami Urban Beach Week

*Highlight*
My hip hop group and one of the best groups coming out of south florida..... G.S.T Band members name T.P , G-BOY and S.A.G.A ..... these 3 men have the raw talent and the drive to make the go straight to the top .....Check out there website Myspace.com/1gst







In the days to come Miami (the 305) will be jammed pack with celebrites and hopefuls trying to meet them ! Rick Ross, Shaquille O'Neal, Trick Daddy, Cool and Dre,
Plies, Trina, DJ Khaled, K. Foxx, Usher, P.Diddy,Nelly,

People always ask me for a list of parties and events for this popular weekend.....

Let me be the first to tell you....
We have a list of the 3 BIG events during the weekend

1.) Ozone Celebrity Basketball Tourney
2.) Gregg Street Car And Fashion Show
3.) The Outdoor Reggae Festival

There are dozens of parties,
pool parties, staged shows,
club concerts and other events
going on throughout the entire weekend on
South Beach.

The very second you step on South Beach.....you will get a TON of flyers telling you exactly where to go.
I make Question and Answer for you to better infom you on
What exactly is the Urban Beach Week?

The Urban Beach Week is the largest Urban Festival in the world that caters toward the Hip Hop Generation . Around 300,000-350,000 participants make the annual trek to South Beach for 4 days full of fun, food, festivities, entertainment, music and more.

How Did It All Start?

Urban Beach Week started back 6 years ago as a small urban fashion show for a few thousand people interested in something different for Memorial Day Weekend in Miami.

In 1999, there was a a smaller crowd but little did people know it was the start of something that was going to be big in the future.

A lot of urban clothing companies such as FUBU and other well known brands wanted a place where they could show off their new fashions. To model their clothes, those fashion companies brought in entertainers, actors and models to put a spotlight on their fashion. There were fashion shows every day all day. The response was extremelly positive and very successfull.

It was actually called Urban Fashion Week in the beginning.

With the warm weather, beautiful scenery, exotic location and large beaches, the event became a new hot spot for other to look towards for vacations and especially Memorial Day Weekend.

Soon after, recording artist and record labels and other entertainers begin to generate the idea that instead of using the same places such as New York and California to shoot videos, Miami could be the focal point.

For the first time, dozens of music videos begin shooting in Miami and brought notice to even more people. People wanted to live and feel what it was like as if they were in a video.

With the success of the very first Memorial Day Weekend word begin to spread to people all over the internet, the Black Beach Week Newsletters and word of mouth that Miami was the place to go for May.

The very next year in 2000 over 250,000 people shocked Miami when people arrived for an all out party.

Since then, the event has grown and generated plenty of events such as the Celebrity Basketball Game, reggae festival, vendor area, shopping district, pool parties and has become the ultimate beach party for the Hip Hop culture. Last year was a record setting date as over 350,000 people witnessed the event first hand.

This year between 350,000 - 400,000 people will attend.