Libertad 548

After ten albums, Pitbulls rapping style and love of party anthems is well-known to any fan of Latin pop and/or hip-hop. Libertad 548 is at once a continuation, and an expansion of his well-established party M.O. The cover photo is of his late father, Armando Perez, Sr., who spirited 548 Cubans to freedom during the Marielle Boatlift of 1980; hence the title. A period photo, it was captured during the mass exodus from Cubas Mariel Harbor when more than 10,0000 Cubans and Haitians made their way to Floridas shores. This is Pitbulls first independently released offering after more than a decade with the majors. The 15-song set (on the physical version) was co-produced by the artist with IAmChino, Jorge Gomez, and Jimmy Joker. Appearing on his Mr. 305 label -- a division of his just-launched multicultural marketing agency 305 Worldwide -- its an opening volley from the bulwarks of the rappers wide-angle musical aesthetic, and its more diverse than anything hes attempted before. Opener Winning (ft. Yomil y El Dany) is old-school boom bap. Pitbull drives his skittering, bass-bumping groove and carries Miami on his back to the world with boisterous help from the swaggering Cuban reggaeton duo. The chart-topping advance single No Lo Trates (ft. Natti Natasha and Daddy Yankee) weds carnival and reggaeton rhythms in a joyous demonstration of punchy, hooky, new school Caribbean groove. 3 to Tango juxtaposes montuno and horn-drenched Caribbean salsa to Argentinian dance music. Happy Mama Day (ft. Chacal and Sky Monroe) is a propulsive party jam with kicking beats, percussive chants, entwined female voices, and hip, syncopated samples from Blackboxs Everybody, Everybody in the chorus. Get Ready (ft. Blake Shelton) threads a sample of Ram Jams Black Betty through fiery, old-school Miami rap and 21st century urbano (in English). In Mala, Becky G rubs bumping dancehall against loopy electro-cumbia and a sample from Beenie Mans Romie into a sultry, steamy mix. Prince Royces sweet, sensual singing voice glides through the first verse of the sexy babymaker Tell Me Again, with Ludacris and Pitbull trading raps behind and around him. The brittle bass drops in Ocupado, a reggaeton anthem, offer strident boasts and encouragement with Flo Rida and El Dany. Closer Cantare (ft. Lenier) is dancefloor reggaeton with the melodic backdrop of Volare loping through carnival drums, sampled choruses, and dubby hip-hop. Libertad 548 is free of musical filler. Pitbulls in full control delivering an album of killer songs that balance levity and substance, beautifully chosen samples, expert writing, and a smoking collection of beats from a wide array of inspired sources. This is arguably Pitbulls strongest recording since 2011s Planet Pit. ~ Thom Jurek

ラテンの仲間や新旧の縁を中心にほぼ全曲を豪勢なコラボで固めた新作。ダディ・ヤンキー&ナティ・ナターシャとエル・ジェネラルをリメイクしたレゲトン"No Lo Trates"をはじめ、MVにも驚かされるタンゴの"3 To Tango"、プリンス・ロイス&リュダクリスとの激甘な"Tell Me Again"など曲調もいろいろ。ブレイク・シェルトンやニーヨ、ベッキーG、リル・ジョンら多様な顔ぶれを自在にもてなすパーティー番長ならではの痛快作だ。
bounce (C)轟ひろみ