Rapper Pitbull gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Los Angeles (AFP) – Rapper Pitbull was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday and said the honor was proof that hard work pays off.

“To be up here, it just goes to show what happens when you focus, when you work hard, when you believe in yourself, when you go against all odds,” the 35-year-old said as he received the 2,584th star at a ceremony.

He said his drive to succeed was never about money but “about coming from nothing to something.”

“It’s about being the prime example of what the American dream is and what it embodies,” he said.

Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, turned to rapping after graduating from high school and has since had a meteoric rise, selling more than 70 million singles and six million albums. He also has more than 9 billion YouTube views of his videos.

He released his first album, “M.I.A.M.I.” in 2004. It was followed by several other albums including “El Mariel” in 2006 and “The Boatlift” in 2007.

His 2011 album “Armando” was released in Spanish as a tribute to his late father.

The rapper was chosen by FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, and Sony Records to write and record the official song of the 2014 World Cup, “We Are One (Ole Ola)” with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte.

Earlier this year he won the Grammy for best Latin rock, urban or alternative album for “Dale,” and in 2013 shared a Latin Grammy with Papayo for best urban performance for “Echa Pa’lla (Manos Pa’rriba).”