El Mariel

El Mariel
El Mariel
Studio album by Pitbull
Released	October 31, 2006
Recorded	April 2005–April 2006
Genre	Hip hop; crunk;
Length	70:55
Label	TVT;
Producer	Diaz Brothers; Lil Jon; DJ Khaled; Mr. Collipark; Jim Jonsin; The Runners; Pharrell Williams; Gorilla Tek; DJ Rob-N; Taz Arnold;
Pitbull chronology
Singles from El Mariel
	"Bojangles"; Released: May 2, 2006; "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)"; Released: October 30, 2006; "Dime"; Released: October 30, 2006; "Be Quiet"; Released: October 31, 2006;

El Mariel is the second studio album by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. It was released on October 31, 2006 through TVT Records. The album was leaked onto the internet on October 27, 2006, four days before the album was released. The album features production from Lil Jon, Diaz Brothers, DJ Khaled, Mr. Collipark, The Neptunes and Jim Jonsin. It also includes guest appearances from Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Lil Jon, Rick Ross and Trick Daddy among 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.

Quick Facts Studio album by Pitbull, Released ...

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El Mariel was supported by four singles: "Bojangles", "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)", "Dime" and "Be Quiet". The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics and was a moderate commercial success. It debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 48,000 copies in its first week.^[1]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings
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]

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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 of RapReviews praised 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 the Los Angeles Times praised 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 of XXL, 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 of Rolling Stone was 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 of HipHopDX said 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]

El Mariel debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 48,000 copies in its first week.^[1] The album also debuted at number one on the US Top Independent Albums chart, 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]

More information No., Title ...

*El Mariel* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"		Donavan Knowles	1:56
2.	"Miami Shit"	Armando Perez Tony Castillo Brandon Hollemon	Gorilla Tek	3:22
3.	"Come See Me"	Perez Willie Colón Hector Lavoe Aldrin Davis	DJ Toomp	3:07
4.	"Jealouso"	Pharrell Williams Perez	Pharrell Williams	4:03
5.	"Qué Tú Sabes D'eso" (featuring Fat Joe and Sinful)	Perez Joseph Cartagena Rodrigo Navarra Alex Francis Jason Arthur Farmer Clifford Harris Gabriel Arillo Davis Donny Hathaway Leroy Hutson Curtis Mayfield Billy Roberts	The Ghost Writers	4:03
6.	"Fademaster Skit"			0:37
7.	"Be Quiet"	Perez Mario Antonio Gonzalez	Shakespeare	3:22
8.	"Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)"	Perez Michael Crooms Agustín Ribot Hansel Martinez Raúl Alfonso	Mr. Collipark	3:25
9.	"Fuego"	Perez Crooms Tony Butler	Mr. Collipark Tom Slick (co.)	3:49
10.	"Rock Bottom" (featuring Bun B and Cubo)	Perez Ernst Dimanche Frank Roman Bernard Freeman	Taz	4:31
11.	"Amanda Diva Skit"			0:41
12.	"Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (featuring Redd Eyezz)	Perez Michael Cipriano James Pierre	Cip	4:05
13.	"Jungle Fever" (featuring Wyclef Jean and Oobie)	Perez Wyclef Jean Robin Garcia Javier Gamboa	DJ Rob-N Gamboa	4:02
14.	"Hey You Girl"	Perez Jim Jonsin Catherine Pierson Frederick Schneider Keith Strickland Cynthia Wilson Ricky Wilson Luther Campbell David Hobbs Mark Ross Christopher Wong Won	Jim Jonsin	3:46
15.	"Raindrops" (featuring Anjuli Stars)	Luis Diaz Hugo Diaz Perez Anjuli Stars	The Diaz Brothers	4:15
16.	"Voodoo"	Perez Jonathan Smith Craig Love LaMarquis Jefferson	Lil Jon	3:47
17.	"Descarada (Dance)" (featuring Vybz Kartel)	Perez Donavan Bennett Adidja Palmer	Don "Vendetta" Bennett	3:02
18.	"Dime (Remix)" (featuring Ken-Y)	Perez Smith Kenny Vázquez	Lil Jon	5:07
19.	"Bojangles (Remix)" (featuring Lil Jon and Ying Yang Twins)	Perez Smith Eric Jackson Deongelo Holmes	Lil Jon	4:29
20.	"Born-N-Raised" (DJ Khaled featuring Pitbull, Trick Daddy, and Rick Ross)	Andrew Harr Jermaine Jackson Johnny Mollings Lenny Mollings Perez	The Runners	4:16
21.	"Outro"			1:10
Total length:				70:55

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More information No., Title ...

iTunes bonus track
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
22.	"We Run This"	Ervin EP Pope	3:29

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Best Buy Bonus DVD

The Making of El 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 by Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe.
"Qué Tú Sabes D'eso" contains an interpolation of "What You Know", written by Clifford Harris, Gabriel Arillo, Aldrin Davis, Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield, and Billy 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 by Catherine Pierson, Frederick Schneider, Keith Strickland, Cynthia Wilson, and Ricky Wilson; performed by The B-52's.
- an interpolation of "One and One', written by Luther Campbell, David Hobbs, Mark Ross, and Christopher Wong Won.

More information Chart (2006), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *El Mariel*
Chart (2006)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[12]	17
US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[13]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[13]	5
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)^[13]	2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *El Mariel*
Chart (2007)	Position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[14]	26

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[1]
Hasty, Katie (November 8, 2006). "'Montana' Zooms By Manilow For Second Week At No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
[2]
Jeffries, David. "El Mariel - Pitbull". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
[3]
Tardio, Andres (November 2, 2006). "Pitbull - El Mariel". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
[4]
Gurza, Agustin (November 7, 2006). "Untainled 'Love'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
[5]
Juon, Steve 'Flash' (November 7, 2006). "Pitbull :: El Mariel :: TVT Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
[6]
Serpick, Evan (November 13, 2006). "El Mariel : Pitbull : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
[7]
Tang, Melisa. "Pitbull - El Mariel". The Situation. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
[8]
Shipley, Al (November 16, 2006). "Pitbull - El Mariel - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
[9]
Alarcon, Jesús Triviño (November 2, 2006). "Pitbull El Mariel". XXL. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
[10]
"Pitbull". Billboard.
[11]
Cohen, Jonathan (October 12, 2007). "Pitbull's 'Boatlift' Setting Sail In November". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
[12]
HDD Charts/Album Sales Archived September 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
[13]
"Original Hits - Pitbull | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
[14]
"2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

[Hasty-1] [1]
Hasty, Katie (November 8, 2006). "'Montana' Zooms By Manilow For Second Week At No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2007.

[AM-2] [2]
Jeffries, David. "El Mariel - Pitbull". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

[HHDX-3] [3]
Tardio, Andres (November 2, 2006). "Pitbull - El Mariel". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

[LA_Times-4] [4]
Gurza, Agustin (November 7, 2006). "Untainled 'Love'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

[RR-5] [5]
Juon, Steve 'Flash' (November 7, 2006). "Pitbull :: El Mariel :: TVT Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

[RS-6] [6]
Serpick, Evan (November 13, 2006). "El Mariel : Pitbull : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

[Situation-7] [7]
Tang, Melisa. "Pitbull - El Mariel". The Situation. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

[Stylus-8] [8]
Shipley, Al (November 16, 2006). "Pitbull - El Mariel - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

[XXL-9] [9]
Alarcon, Jesús Triviño (November 2, 2006). "Pitbull El Mariel". XXL. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

[10] [10]
"Pitbull". Billboard.

[11] [11]
Cohen, Jonathan (October 12, 2007). "Pitbull's 'Boatlift' Setting Sail In November". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2013.

[HDD_Charts-12] [12]
HDD Charts/Album Sales Archived September 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[Allmusic_Charts-13] [13]
"Original Hits - Pitbull | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2014.

[14] [14]
"2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

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Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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El Mariel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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Critical reception

Commercial performance

Track listing

Charts

References