Miami rhymesayer Pitbull is teaming up with popular tequila producer Jose Cuervo to find the next generation of Latino urban music stars.
The pair, along with Hip-Hop mogul Chingo Bling and rising star Malverde, have joined forces for the second annual Cuervotón, a nationwide talent search that will spotlight unsigned artists as they submit demos for review and compete for a major record deal with Def Jam Records’ Roc La Familia.
The event, which kicked off this month, presents “an opportunity for success to some very talented people who otherwise may never have had the chance,” said Pitbull.
“As someone who grew up with obstacles to overcome, I know what it’s like to get a break and work tirelessly to achieve your dreams,” Pitbull explained. “Cuervotón is all about shining a light on Latino musicians and giving them a shot.”
Contestants who make it to the finals will showcase their talent for the public while sharing the stage with established artists on the Cuervotón 2008 tour.
The finals of the competition will be held in May in New York, Chicago, Miami, Phoenix and Houston. Winners will also be featured on Estudio 201’s Volume 3 CD.
The event is sponsored by Jose Cuervo, Malverde, BMI, Gibson, Roc La Familia, Atlantic Records and LIFEbeat, a music industry AIDS charity organization.
Last year’s search, led by Bling and DJ Tony Touch with support from Machete Music and Wu-Tang Latino, reached more than 30,000 consumers across five cities in 12 weeks.
The campaign was capped off with a concert in Times Square’s Nokia Theater in New York City that featured performances by Pitbull, N.O.R.E. and Chingo Bling.
For more details about the contest and to register, visit www.cuervoton.com.
