Pitbull, best known for his sometimes raunchy, always-catchy blend of hip-hop and electro-pop, is expanding his horizons and moving beyond music. The rapper, real name Armando Christian Perez, is currently working on two reality television shows with the Weinstein Company.
The first is a fairly straightforward reality show, set to be called Pitbull: The Lyfe (yes, it is spelled with a Y). The program will follow the singer as he tours, records new music, and travels the world (he does often refer to himself as “Mr. Worldwide”).
The second show is The REAL Change Project, which will see Pitbull speaking with some of the biggest names in sports, music, and politics to discuss those that helped them get where they are today and who their mentors were. So far, there are some pretty impressive names connected to the project, such as Michelle Obama, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and Kobe Bryant. The show will also feature occasional performances aimed at raising money for teachers around the world.
The rapper said the two series showcase “the point of view that life is what we make it – some follow the rules, others bend them”, while Harvey Weinstein called the partnership a “a phenomenal opportunity” in a statement.
Pitbull’s production house Honey I’m Home is working alongside the Weinstein Company’s television division to produce the two series. Pitbull is also working on a New Year’s Eve special for Fox with his company. If you can’t wait for his new shows get picked up (they aren’t attached to a network yet), you can catch him on the American Music Awards on November 23rd, where he’ll serve as a host.
Pitbull is known for his collaborations, both in the studio and out. He has so far accrued over twenty top forty hits—including chart toppers “Timber (ft. Ke$ha)” and “Give Me Everything (ft. Afrojack, Ne-Yo and Nayer)”. On top of that, he has several top ten hits, such as “Feel This Moment (ft. Christina Aguilera)”, “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”, and “Hotel Room Service”. His latest single, “Fireball”, has so far made it to number thirty on the Hot 100, and his new album Globalization is expected November 24th.