It’s unclear whether it’s due to the fact Pitbull made his name in the sweltering heat of Miami, but the Latino rapper knows how to make a hit summer record. Last year tracks like ‘Hotel Room Service’ and ‘I Know You Want Me’ were totally ubiquitous throughout the latter half of 2009. The rappers blend of commercial dance beats and party focused raps may not be high brow, but it is most certainly popular as hell.
Pitbull’s latest effort combines several tried and tested elements that have featured in many previous summer dance anthems. A Caribbean flavoured chorus, Costa Del Sol horns and a mid ‘90’s dance beat are mixed together with an admittedly catchy effect. The track is in no way reinventing the wheel, but its carnival vibe is likely to soundtrack many a party or drunken holiday moment throughout this year’s warmer months.
The chorus is provided by Machel Montano; one of Trinidad’s most accomplished Soca performers and a man who has had over a dozen notable albums of his own - not to mention a slew of classic Soca singles.
‘Alright’ is taken from Pitbull’s forthcoming album Armando which will be available early June.
The first decade of the 21st century hasn’t been too kind to Cypress Hill. Once the favourites of the grunge generation due to marijuana-friendly career highlights such as ‘Insane in the Brain’; the Latin hip-hop band returns with their long-time delayed eight studio album, ‘Rise Up’.
The preceding two singles received a lukewarm reception; but things are likely to change with new track, ‘Armada Latina’. One of the most pop-friendly songs Cypress Hill have ever recorded, it drenches an irresistible blend of summery Latin grooves over a sample of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s ‘Judy Blue Eyes’. It also features a collaboration with two of the biggest Spanish stars of the moment: Miami rapper Pitbull and Mr. J-Lo himself, Marc Anthony. ‘Armada Latina’ is proving to bea perfect combination and seems ready to push the band back on top of the charts. If all goes to plan, Cypress Hill could well be following recent nineties comebacks stars such as Michael Franti’s Spearhead all the way back to the top.
‘Armada Latina’ is available to download from iTunes. The album ‘Rise Up’ will be released on April the 20th via Priority records
This week Pitbull tops the Shazam Pre-relesae Tag Chart with his huge reggaton/electro hybrid, ‘I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)’. The record takes its main hook from 90’s house classic ‘The Bomb’ by The Bucketheads – a record which in turn samples ‘Street Player,’ an obscure track from American AOR rockers Chicago. Already massive in the USA and across Europe, ‘I Know You Want Me’ is sure to be a summer anthem in the UK. New releases come this week from Jamie T, Cascada and red haired chanteuse, La Roux
