Pitbull, Don Dinero and Lady Sovereign

Miami native and Cuban-American rapper Pitbull, aka Armando Cristian Pérez, drops his long awaited second album this week, El Mariel. His incendiary single Ya Se Acabó (It’s Over) was all over South Florida Latin radio when it was used to prematurely celebrate the end of Fidel Castro’s reign in Cuba after the dictator fell gravely ill last July. While the lyrics are a decidely political departure for the 25-year-old, the music of El Mariel brings more deep nasty beats on tracks like "Ay Chico" and "Bojangles" as well as a truly star-studded cast that includes the Ying Yang Twins, Diddy, Diaz Brothers, Ken-Y, Pharrell, Lil Jon, and Rick Ross. During the two years since his debut, the 2004 M.I.A.M.I (Money is A Major Issue), Pitbull has become a multi-platform artist with a guest appearance in the video game Scarface: The World Is Yours as well as his own television show, slated for early next year. His shrewd aesthetics and loyal fanbase all but guarantee the album’s mainstream success. Empezó.

Another Cuban-American rapper also releasing an album this week is Don Dinero. El Ultimo Guerrero is Jose Manuel Guitian’s third album as Don Dinero. With the undeniably hot track Muevete, featuring N.O.R.E. leading the attack, Don Dinero stays true to his Washington Heights, New York City hip hop roots. Guitian has been doing the Urban Latin thing before there was even a name for it, and for now remains one of the few rappers who speaks the truth of it all in his heavy and heartfelt lyrics.

The biggest midget in the game, British 20-year-old Lady Sovereign is the first non-American female rapper to release an album on the Def Jam label. The Basement Jaxx-produced Public Warning finally hits the shelves this week and it’s all about Sov’s, aka Louise Amanda Harman’s, universe back home: from hoodies to Croydon facelifts, from Burberry to caps, and of course, chav culture. It’s obvious, innit? Rapping over a fresh mix that is equal parts hip hop, pop and grime, the 5-foot-1 Lady Sovereign worries about the same things as any American teenager. In the tradition of Eminem and with a full-court press by Def Jam, Public Warning could very well become the album of the year.