But while an album is always more than a cover the tracks here are anything but a one-man job as Team Pitbull is quite a crew.

Pitbull, the Cuban-American from Miami knows his heritage: El Mariel is named after the Cuban boatlift that relocated over 100,000 Cubans to Florida and musically, and he’s dug deep for some of the samples. The best of these is the Fania All Stars/Willie Colon/Hector Lavoe ‘La Murga de Panama’ on ‘Come See Me’ for its great Latin horn-crunk.

The other big tracks are ‘Ay Chicho (Lengua Afuera)’, ‘Que Tu Sabes D’eso (What You Know About That)’ and the recently re-issued single, ‘Bojangles’ remix.

Like Hi-Tek’s latest album, we’ve got a roll call of guests such as ‘Jealouso’ produced by The Neptunes although it’s not in the Gwen Stefani league. ‘Be Quiet’ and the Mr. Collipark-produced ‘Fuego’ are much better. The collaboration with Vybz Kartel is disappointing but Bun B and Cubo come good on ‘Rock Bottom’ as does Wyclef Jean on the Spike Lee inspired ‘Jungle Fever’.

If you fancy something like a mash-up, ‘Hey You Girl’ features the guitar lick from the B52’s ‘Rock Lobster’ but stick with it for the Lil John-produced ‘Voodoo’ for some percussion in the Fania spirit.

The intro/outro rap comes from Will “Da-Real One” and Redd Eyezz provides the poetry start to the anti-Iraq war ‘Blood Is Thicker Than Water’. Anjuli Stars shines on the tribute to anyone who’s lost somebody, in this case Pitbull’s Dad and Uncle.

Pitbull is a hip hop star that knows how to use his Latino roots and this CD shows that he’s more than just ‘Bojangles’.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Come See Me’, ‘Ay Chicho (Lengua Afuera)’, ‘Que Tu Sabes D’eso’ , ‘Voodoo’.

Reviewed: Pitbull — El Mariel (TVT) Cat. No. TV-2820-2 Release date: 22 January 2007

Tracklisting
1. (Intro) vocals Will “Da-Real One”
2. Miami Sh***
3. Come See Me
4. Jealouso
5. Que Tu Sabes D’Eso feat. Fat Joe & Sinful
6. (Fademaster Skit)
7. Be Quiet
8. Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)
9. Fuego
10. Rock Bottom feat. Bun B & Cubo
11. (Amanda Diva Skit)
12. Blood Is Thicker Than Water feat. Redd Eyez
13. Jungle Fever feat. Wyclef
14. Hey You Girl
15. Raindrops feat. Anjuli Stars
16. Voodoo
17. Descarada (Dance) feat. Vybz Cartel
18. Dime Remix feat. Ken-Y
19. Bojangles Remix feat. Lil Jon & Ying Yang Twins
20. Born N Raised (DJ Khaled feat. Pitbull, Trick Daddy, & Rick Ross)
21 (Outro) vocals Will “Da-Real One”

Links:
www.pitbullmusic.com
www.myspace.com/pitbull
www.tvtrecords.com
Spike Lee — Jungle Fever (1991)
Pitbull Interview at www.reggaeton.co.uk “We are also happy to present a new Reggaeton night at Bar Rumba, Reggaeton Fury launching on the 6th December, so make sure you check it out! This Friday is the Heatwave party in Islington, for those of you who have been, you know what to expect…a true Caribbean vibe with the hottest Dancehall, Reggae, Reggaeton and Hip Hop!”