Pitbull Recounts How His Family's Immigrant Story Gave Him His Own American Dream

"They knew what this country had to offer is that you could control your own destiny," Pitbull said in a new video to close out June’s Immigrant Heritage Month.

By
Adolfo Flores
by Adolfo Flores

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Cuban-American rapper Pitbull shared how his family came to the U.S., taught him about his roots, and how to hustle in a video for the end of Immigrant Heritage Month.

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Pitbull's mother came to the U.S. via a program called Operation Peter Pan and his father through a visa lottery.

"So there’s a lot of history there, definitely very deeply rooted and that’s why I appreciate every opportunity this country has to offer," Pitbull said.

His family instilled in him a strong work ethic.

"They knew what this country had to offer is that you could control your won destiny," he said. "You had opportunity. And you had the number one thing which was and which is freedom."

This work ethic taught him how to hustle and he's literally always selling his brand.

"It’s always about building something. If you think about it my name’s Armando and armando in Spanish is to build," Pitbull said.

Pitbull said he learned a lot of life lessons from his mother.

As a child, Pitbull's dad would take him to restaurants and bars to recite the words of Cuban poet José Martí.

He encouraged others to look into their family's history in the U.S. and abroad.

¡Dale!

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