Pitbull Starring In: Rebelution (Deluxe Version)

Editors’ Notes

Pitbull’s fourth album is his most diverse effort to date. While there is nothing here as effortlessly catchy as “C**o,” it takes a lot of guts for the Cuban-American MC to push his boundaries and fortunately he adapts well to different settings. His machine-gun flow is the perfect fit for “Juice Box,” a skittering outburst produced by pioneering Baltimore club producer DJ Class. Pitbull also flirts with hard rock on “Can’t Stop Me Now,” which features a stomping guitar riff straight out of Jack White’s playbook. In a tribute to the glitz of his native Miami, “Shut It Down” echoes the glory days of ‘80s electro. While longtime fans might bemoan its lack of hardcore reggaeton, Rebelution is not short on tracks that put Pitbull in high-impact mode. “I Know You Want Me” and “Krazy” are jet-propelled bangers, while the action-packed “Triumph” gets its energy from a live brass band. Pitbull’s energy is his trademark, but the most revealing song on Rebelution might be “Give Them What They Ask For,” a production that cuts the beat in half and puts the spotlight on Pitbull’s rhyme skills.