National Charter Schools Conference Features Sexist Lyricist Pitbull

UPDATE: I take a look at the finances behind Pitbull, SLAM, and the charter's management company, Academica. It ain't pretty.

UPDATE: Mother Crusader has more on the background of Pitbull. Darcie, by the way, is the mother of two adorable daughters. I wonder how other mothers might feel about sending their daughters to SLAM after reading what she found.


This year's National Charter Schools Conference will feature failed NYC Chancellor and current snake oil salesman Joel Klein; the incoherent and failed SecEd, Arne Duncan; and easily confused education writer and meme producer for the reformy, Amanda Ripley.

But, as exciting as it will be to hear from these reformy luminaries, they aren't even the main attraction:

Armando Christian Pérez

International Music Superstar Pitbull, SLAM Public Charter School

Miami-native Armando Pérez (Pitbull)—also known as "Mr. Worldwide" and "Mr. 305"—is a globally successful musician, performer, business entrepreneur, fashion icon and actor whose career sales exceed 5 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide. Pitbull has had #1 hits in more than 15 countries and his videos have been viewed more than 3 billion times. His world tour sold out concerts in Latin America, Canada and Europe, before bringing the party to the United States, Japan and Australia.

Mr. Pérez’s commercial success has solidified his influence in his hometown community. He is making the most of his position as a civic leader in Miami by opening the Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) charter school for youth of the city. SLAM seeks to provide an in-depth educational and career-preparation program through “3 R’s”: rigor, relevance, and relationships. The school’s first cohort of students will begin classes this fall.

Let's leave aside any discussion, for the moment, as to why anyone would think Pitbull is in any way qualified to receive taxpayer funds to run a school. Let's instead take a short tour of Mr. Perez's music, and hopefully gain an insight into the values he hopes to impart to his young charges at SLAM.

Courtesy of the website MetroLyrics, here are some prime examples of Pitbull's "art" [all emphases mine]:


International Love

I've been to countries and cities I can't pronounce

And the places on the globe I didn't know existed

In Romania, she pulled me to the side and told me

"Pit, you can have me and my sister"

In Lebanon, yeah, the women are bomb [Yes, he really did say that. - JJ]*

And in Greece, you've guessed it, the women are sweet

Spinned all around the world but I ain't gon' lie

There's nothing like Miami's heat

En Colombia women got everything on

Some of the most beautiful women I've ever seen

In Brazil, is freaky big o' booty

And they bounce, blue, yellow and green

The Anthem

She told me that her mama's Latin, her dad Asian

Abuela está loca, abuelo Hatian

Y yo soy Cubano and I'm impatient

So do me a favor, let's skip conversation

I just wanna taste ya ASAP

Take ya ASAP, to the room ASAP

Zoom zoom ASAP, boom boom take that

Ooh, I like that when you fight back [Is there any way to interpret this other than as a rape fantasy? - JJ]

Room Service

She like that freaky stuff

Two and the O, 1 in the eye,

that kinky stuff, you nasty,

but I like your type

and like T.I. its whatever you like.

Bring your girls,

its whatever tonight,

your man just left,

I'm the plumber tonight,

I check your pipes,

oh, you're the healthy type.

Well, here goes some egg whites.

Now gimme that sweet, that nasty gushy stuff,


Move, Shake, Drop

I got 1's, 5's, 10's, 20's

I got them 50's

Got them 100's baby

I got plenty, I wanna see ya work (work) that pole

'till 'till 'till you get sweaty

I wanna hit it from from the back

I promise you'll like it if you let me

Fuego

You think you gangsta'

Cause you did time

Well, listen here, gangsta

Don't cross the line

Mr. Collipark

If you think it's a game, you play with it right

Ain't nothin' safe when them guns start

Bojangles

Pequeño JuanBoy, you killed this one dog

If you don't know her name it's cool call her this
Jigga jigga, call that girl Bojangles

Jigga jigga, call that girl Bojangles

Jigga jigga, call that girl Bojangles

The following is not a test, DJ!

I see the way you move and I picture you nude

Baby keep movin' that thing, baby keep movin' that thing

I wanna take you to the boom boom room

So we can do it like boom, boom, boom, boom

Pleasure, yes, God bless

I love my women rated triple-X

Let me show you how we do it 'round here

Man the women they don't fake it they get naked down here
It's da bottom, no bras no drawers

Da bottom, where they holla "Take it off!"

Da bottom, where we turn out daughters

Just to plan a lick on the father, we got 'em
Licky licky, licky licky, I like to

Licky licky, licky licky, we like to

Licky licky, licky licky, they like to

Licky licky, licky licky, DJ!

Juice Box

I want, I need, I like to get

Money, money, money, money

I want, I need, I like to get

Money, money, money, I like

Her right there and her friend over there, I like

Her right there and her friend over there, I like

Her right there and her friend over there, I like

Her right there and her friend over there, I like

That juice box wet, she keep that juice box juicy, I like

That juice box wet, she keep that juice box juicy, I like

That juice box wet, she keep that juice box juicy, I like

That juice box wet, she keep that juice box juicy, I like

My life, Vincent Van Gogh couldn't paint it

And I love that you hate it

I fuck 'em, you date 'em, I'm hotter than Satan

Look partner just save it

Folks, I'm not a prude, but seriously: yuck. Hey, Joel, are you down with all this?

"I party hard."

ADDING: Everyone deserves a second chance.

Rapper Pitbull has been arrested for DUI - twice - and has admitted to once being a drug dealer in Miami, but that's not stopping Commissioner Tomas Regalado from giving him the keys to the city.

The 28-year-old rapper, born Armando Perez, will be presented with the keys by Regalado during a ceremony Wednesday morning at City Hall.

Pitbull was busted in December 2007 for driving under the influence after his Mercedes was clocked going 93 mph on the Palmetto Expressway. The arrest report noted that Pitbull had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, his eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred. He also failed all field sobriety tests, according to the report.

He reportedly tried to brush off the incident, telling the arresting officers, "This is a big waste of time your time, papo."

He later refused a Breathalyzer test. The case was finally closed just last month, and Pitbull was found not guilty in the incident.

The rapper had previously pleaded no contest in another DUI case in March 2001 and only paid a fine.

Pitbull, also known as "Mr. 305," has talked about his rough past in several interviews, claiming his father dealt drugs in the '80s. He said he began to follow in his father's footsteps, but music set him straight.

Aside from the DUIs, Pit has mostly stayed out of trouble and does a lot of charity work around the city.

Good for him. So why not stick with that and leave running public schools to professional educators? I mean, you don't see me running around telling strippers to "work that pole," do you?

Let's each do the jobs we are best prepared to do.

* ADDING MORE: International Love, Pitbull's collaboration with admitted woman-beater Chris Brown, contains this lyric:

In Lebanon, yeah, the women are bomb

According to Wikipedia, the song was released in May of 2011. It's worth noting that the Israel-Lebanon border clash took place in August of 2010. This was followed by the collapse of the Lebanese government in January, 2011. In other words: at the time Pitbull must have been producing this song, Lebanon was very much in the news.

I'm not going to get into the politics of the Mid-East here; my knowledge of Lebanese history is extremely limited, and I know the various sides in the conflicts around Lebanon have very strong views as to who is to blame. I will, however, point out that this country has a sad, bloody history of conflict in which many people - including children - have died. The conflicts that have dogged Lebanon continue to this very day.

I wonder if Pitbull ever thought about all of this as he was making his little song and his little joke.