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Despite Worldwide Success, "Mr. 305" Pitbull Doesn't Forget Roots

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) - He's known as Mr. Worldwide with constant shout outs to the "305". He's Pitbull, a 32 year old Cuban-American entertainer who never forgets where he came from.

"From the 305 to worldwide baby, you know what it is-- Dale!" said Pitbull, looking straight into the news camera.

Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Perez, sat down with CBS4 entertainment reporter Lisa Petrillo one afternoon recently at the Sole on the Ocean in Sunny Isles. Pitbull was in town shooting a music video for his new single, "Habibi, I Love You". Habibi is the Arabic word for "my beloved."

"It's a lot of hard work, I'm always working", he said. "But, as they always say, if you don't know where you're from, you don't know where you're going. But you know, we know where we came from."

On the track, Pitbull joined forces again with his friend, RedOne whose one of the hottest music producers in the biz. RedOne has helped the careers of Lady Gaga, J-Lo, Enrique Iglesias and more.

The song features Pitbull but stars an upcoming Moroccan singer named Ahmed Chawki.

"This is actually a moment in history. This is Mr. Worldwide. He doesn't only think Miami he thinks the global. So who could be better for him to do this song with us?" said RedOne, who is also from Morocco.

"The funny thing is you'll hear this record and we'll do 25 re-mixes" said Pitbull. " The next thing you know it's all around the world,  and  that's how it works out.  Especially with RedOne involved . I'm Mr. Worldwide but he's Mr. World Producer!!!"

Director Dale Restighini has shot more than  700 music videos and says bringing Pitbull into this video is simply brilliant marketing.

"This video with Pitbull in it was strategically planned to help launch him all over the world," Restighini said.

"Music is the universal language" said Pitbull. "Ok, so I'm learning every language as we go around the world like "Habibi."  My "habibi" baby. To all the women in Miami, you're my habibis."

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