Pitbull Starring In: Rebelution

Album Review

On the mistitled Rebelution, rapper Pitbull takes a cue from his homeboy Flo Rida and dives headfirst into the lucrative world of ultra-slick Miami club-rap. The only stories of boat people found here are the kind about people who own yachts, and while the Cuban-American's songs of freedom are sorely missed, nothing in the man's back catalog could fill a dancefloor as quickly as the tech-house stunner "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)." Same could said of the futuristic booty music "Krazy" with Lil Jon or "Hotel Room Service," which triple mashes an old-school hit ("Rapper's Delight"), a 2 Live Crew classic ("One and One"), plus a house music giant (the Nightcrawlers' "Push the Feeling On"). Problem is, when it doesn't work, it is borderline obnoxious, worst being when "Girl" beats a trashy, groan-worthy joke into the ground (heard repeatedly is "Mama, you bi?" "No, I'm 'tri.' I'll try anything"). The only relief comes in the form of the overgrown interlude "Dope Ball" ("The law is like referees/They can get bought") plus the two calmer closing tracks that slowly ease the listener down. Even if it's not the most persuasive mood album, once the party has kicked into high gear Rebelution will certainly keep it going.