Pitbull
The most recognizable of all Cuban MCs, Pitbull embodies the hustle of Tony Montana in Scarface and boasts the international star power of Celia Cruz. The Miami native paid his dues like any other struggling rapper but, with hard work and determination, he has become the pride of Cubans worldwide, and one of the most successful artists in any genre over the last five-plus years. Though most people know him for his party songs, the titles of his albums El Mariel (2006) and The Boatlift (2007) refer to the mass migration of Cuban refugees to Miami a year before his birth, in 1980, one of many ways he’s highlighted his heritage.