It’s Pitbull’s birthday — so let’s discuss why he is the hero that Miami deserves
Pitbull hasn’t saved the world. Yet. But give the man time.
The Miami born and bred superstar is turning 39 on Jan. 15 and we want to salute him in the most proper way: by calling out his many altruistic deeds over the years. Yes, Pitbull does so much more than make music. He’s our superhero, a philanthropist, businessman, restaurateur and all around good guy. Here are five ways Mr. 305 made us proud to call him our own.
Haters can’t stop him
Back in July 2012, Pitbull left sunny Miami to travel to the ends of the earth. That would be Kodiak, Alaska, on a visit to Walmart’s most remote store as part of a “Facebook likes” promotion. This location of the superstore won after Boston Phoenix journalist David Thorpe thought it would be funny to #exilepitbull to the middle of nowhere by promoting Kodiak’s store on Twitter. Joke was on him. Pitbull showed up to the town (pop. 6,000) and got the key to the city. “I’ll go anywhere in the world for my fans,” he said about the trip.
He teaches kids how to rep the 305
In 2013, the man born Armando Christian Perez opened SLAM! public charter school in Little Havana, his old stomping grounds. Last May, Pit addressed the Class of 2019: “If you really represent 305, Dade County and Miami the same way I do then I need y’all to go out there in the world and let them know what we’re made of and the way that we’re built and the way that we fight.” We’re pumped.
He is a marketing mastermind
Don’t say the U word to Pitbull, like, ever. Last year, the “Give Me Everything” singer voiced the character of “Ugly Dog,” in the “UglyDolls” movie. He told Good Morning America that he wanted to break the stigma with the acronym “U Gotta Love Yourself.” Talk about rebranding.
He has famous friends
Last year, the Grammy winner enlisted John Travolta to appear in his “3 to Tango” video, playing HIM. Yes, the “Saturday Night Fever” star (ditching the hairpiece) channeled Mr. Worldwide, dancing in his former restaurant, ILov305, drinking Pit’s Voli vodka and even saying his catchphrase, “Dale.”
He is super stylish
You don’t have to wear your pants around your ankles when you get super famous.The mega entertainer showed us that a tux tucked inside a fit body is everything. Yassss. Abuela approves.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
