El Marielis the secondstudio albumbyCuban-AmericanrapperPitbull.It was released on October 31, 2006 throughTVT Records.The album was leaked onto the internet on October 27, 2006, four days before the album was released. The album features production fromLil Jon,Diaz Brothers,DJ Khaled,Mr. Collipark,The Neptunesand Jim Jonsin. It also includesguest appearancesfromFat Joe,Wyclef Jean,Lil Jon,Rick RossandTrick Daddyamong others. A Spanish-language version of the album was also released on October 31, 2006 featuring the three singles from the album, along with twelve Spanish-only tracks.
| El Mariel | ||||
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| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | October 31, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | April 2005–April 2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 70:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Pitbullchronology | ||||
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| SinglesfromEl Mariel | ||||
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El Marielwas supported by foursingles:"Bojangles","Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)","Dime"and"Be Quiet".The album received generally mixed reviews frommusic criticsand was a moderate commercial success. It debuted at number 17 on the USBillboard200chart, selling 48,000 copies in its first week.[1]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| HipHopDX |  [3] |
| Los Angeles Times | [4] |
| RapReviews | 8.0/10[5] |
| Rolling Stone | [6] |
| The Situation | 4/5[7] |
| Stylus Magazine | B−[8] |
| XXL | (L)[9] |
AllMusic's David Jeffries noted that the album's political aspects are misleading, but praised it for having catchy party music mixed with the serious tracks and Pitbull for showing a little depth in his lyrical repertoire, concluding that, "While it's hard to deny the more mature Pitbull is something that needs to be explored further, it's just as hard to deny the rump-shaking, trunk-rumbling stunners he drops all over the album."[2]Steve 'Flash' Juon ofRapReviewspraised the album's reggaeton sound and Pitbull's improvement as a lyricist and musician, concluding that, "Hip-Hop in South Florida is now more universal than ever thanks in large part to Pitbull's infectious flow and machismo."[5]Agustin Gurza of theLos Angeles Timespraised the record for conveying an artist that carries multiple dimensions and facets of a lived life, saying "we meet a Pitbull who is even likable and vulnerable."[4]
Jesús Triviño Alarcon ofXXL,while praising the tracks that involved serious topics, felt the record was overhauled by a majority of the nondescript dance club tracks, concluding that "[T]he music may knock in the club, but Pitbull’s lack of diversity is a major issue."[9]Evan Serpick ofRolling Stonewas critical of Pitbull's flow throughout the album, saying that it works in the party tracks but the slower ones bring out lyricism that's limp, concluding that "his hot flow and ice-cold lyrics are better served in the club."[6]Andres Tardio ofHipHopDXsaid he saw potential based on the record's title and its serious tracks but felt it was wasted opportunity because of Pitbull not being able to stay on topic.[3]
Commercial performance
editEl Marieldebuted at number 17 on the USBillboard200chart, selling 48,000 copies in its first week.[1]The album also debuted at number one on the USTop Independent Albumschart, becoming Pitbull's second number one on the chart.[10]As of April 2007, the album has sold over a total of 214,000 copies in the United States.[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Donavan Knowles | 1:56 | |
| 2. | "Miami Shit" |
| Gorilla Tek | 3:22 |
| 3. | "Come See Me" | DJ Toomp | 3:07 | |
| 4. | "Jealouso" |
| Pharrell Williams | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Qué Tú Sabes D'eso" (featuringFat Joeand Sinful) |
| The Ghost Writers | 4:03 |
| 6. | "Fademaster Skit" | 0:37 | ||
| 7. | "Be Quiet" |
| Shakespeare | 3:22 |
| 8. | "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)" |
| Mr. Collipark | 3:25 |
| 9. | "Fuego" |
|
| 3:49 |
| 10. | "Rock Bottom" (featuringBun Band Cubo) |
| Taz | 4:31 |
| 11. | "Amanda Diva Skit" | 0:41 | ||
| 12. | "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (featuring Redd Eyezz) |
| Cip | 4:05 |
| 13. | "Jungle Fever" (featuringWyclef JeanandOobie) |
|
| 4:02 |
| 14. | "Hey You Girl" | Jim Jonsin | 3:46 | |
| 15. | "Raindrops" (featuring Anjuli Stars) |
| The Diaz Brothers | 4:15 |
| 16. | "Voodoo" |
| Lil Jon | 3:47 |
| 17. | "Descarada (Dance)" (featuringVybz Kartel) |
| Don "Vendetta" Bennett | 3:02 |
| 18. | "Dime(Remix) "(featuringKen-Y) |
| Lil Jon | 5:07 |
| 19. | "Bojangles(Remix) "(featuringLil JonandYing Yang Twins) |
| Lil Jon | 4:29 |
| 20. | "Born-N-Raised"(DJ Khaledfeaturing Pitbull,Trick Daddy,andRick Ross) | The Runners | 4:16 | |
| 21. | "Outro" | 1:10 | ||
| Total length: | 70:55 | |||
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22. | "We Run This" | Ervin EP Pope | 3:29 |
Best Buy Bonus DVD
- The Making ofEl Mariel(directed by Bobby Viera)
- "Bojangles" (remix) video
- "Bojangles" live performance Video (directed by Bobby Viera)
- La Esquina: Trading Races
Sample credits
- "Come See Me" contains a sample of "La Murga de Panama", written and performed byWillie ColónandHector Lavoe.
- "Qué Tú Sabes D'eso" contains an interpolation of "What You Know",written byClifford Harris,Gabriel Arillo,Aldrin Davis,Donny Hathaway,Leroy Hutson,Curtis Mayfield,andBilly Roberts.
- "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)" contains an interpolation of "Todo el Mundo Con la Lengua Afuera", written by Agustín Ribot, Hansel Martinez, and Raúl Alfonso.
- "Fuego" contains an interpolation of "When I Hear Music",written by Tony Butler.
- "Hey You Girl" contains:
- a sample of "Rock Lobster",written byCatherine Pierson,Frederick Schneider,Keith Strickland,Cynthia Wilson,andRicky Wilson;performed byThe B-52's.
- an interpolation of "One and One', written byLuther Campbell,David Hobbs,Mark Ross,andChristopher Wong Won.
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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References
edit- ^abHasty, Katie (November 8, 2006)."'Montana' Zooms By Manilow For Second Week At No. 1 ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2023.RetrievedMarch 10,2007.
- ^abJeffries, David."El Mariel - Pitbull".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^abTardio, Andres (November 2, 2006)."Pitbull - El Mariel".HipHopDX.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2009.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^abGurza, Agustin (November 7, 2006)."Untainled 'Love'".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on June 25, 2023.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^abJuon, Steve 'Flash' (November 7, 2006)."Pitbull:: El Mariel:: TVT Records".RapReviews.Archivedfrom the original on April 23, 2023.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^abSerpick, Evan (November 13, 2006)."El Mariel: Pitbull: Review".Rolling Stone.Wenner Media.Archived fromthe originalon December 3, 2007.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
- ^Tang, Melisa."Pitbull - El Mariel".The Situation.Archived fromthe originalon February 24, 2007.RetrievedAugust 27,2015.
- ^Shipley, Al (November 16, 2006)."Pitbull - El Mariel - Review".Stylus Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2007.RetrievedAugust 29,2016.
- ^abAlarcon, Jesús Triviño (November 2, 2006)."Pitbull El Mariel".XXL.Townsquare Media.Archivedfrom the original on June 25, 2023.RetrievedJune 25,2023.
- ^"Pitbull".Billboard.
- ^Cohen, Jonathan (October 12, 2007)."Pitbull's 'Boatlift' Setting Sail In November".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on April 11, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 14,2013.
- ^HDD Charts/Album SalesArchivedSeptember 15, 2014, at theWayback Machine
- ^abc"Original Hits - Pitbull | Awards".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 6,2014.
- ^"2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon April 16, 2016.RetrievedAugust 27,2015.