Pitbull’s ‘PITCOIN’ Has a Guest List Only Mr. Worldwide Could Pull Off

Two things about Pitbull are undeniable: he makes jams, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. In the past, we’ve had a good idea of what he was going for. With his latest project, though, he’s keeping us guessing.

Mr. Worldwide has announced that he will release PITCOIN, his 14th studio album. The record boasts 24 tracks, almost all of them featuring a guest. The lineup ranges from Enrique Iglesias and Jowell & Randy to KISS and Bon Jovi. Given the project’s scope, it’s hard to tell whether Pitbull is ready to take his artistry to the next level or is leaning into absolute absurdity.

Due October 9, PITCOIN follows Pitbull’s 2023 album Trackhouse. Other guests include Lil Jon, who appears multiple times, as well as Akon, Jason Derulo, Wiz Khalifa, Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Gente de Zona, Anthony Ramos (!), Zion, Lenier, Filmore, DJ Laz, and others.

Let’s pause and think about it. Pitbull seems to be tracing a journey through his career without relying on pure nostalgia. His collaboration with Lil Jon nods to his early Miami bass and crunk era, while throwback names like Akon and Jason Derulo evoke his pop ubiquity in the 2010s. New collaborations with electronic artists recognize his impact on dance music, and the album also nods to his Latine pop and reggaeton hybrids, along with his recent viral rock mashups. This could be the album we remember Pitbull for.

On the other hand, the album is called PITCOIN—a little late to capitalize on the cryptocurrency craze. (Ironically, its announcement has prompted unaffiliated crypto tokens to surge in value.) And a 24-track release feels like a throwback to how artists like Drake and The Weeknd once used longer albums to game streaming numbers. Not to mention, an album that puts ’70s rock cartoons-come-to-life KISS alongside Latin Boom heartthrob Enrique Iglesias is bound to attract press. That seems par for the course for Pitbull.

That unpredictability may be part of the point. Whether PITCOIN turns out to be a genuinely ambitious artistic statement or Pitbull leaning harder than ever into the larger-than-life persona that has made him such a recognizable pop-culture figure, he’s created something almost impossible to ignore.

Still, it’s refreshing to see an album announcement from an artist known for hustling and leaning into the joke—not one driven by viral controversy, an AI endorsement, or an attempt to jump on the latest bandwagon. At least Pitbull seems ready to deliver some bangers. That’s the intention, at least.

So what can we expect from PITCOIN? For now, we don’t know, but we’re keeping an open mind. After all, “Culo” remains as brilliant as it is ridiculous, so let’s give him some credit.