After wooing reggaeton fans with the smash single El Tiburon, featured on Luny Tunes' Mas Flow 2, the hardworking duo is now set to unleash its debut album The Pitbulls, which is promising to make the world bark to a new tune.
"I'm very cerebral; I tend to have a lot of concepts, and Alexis has to let me know whether he thinks they can executed," 26-year-old Joel "Fido" Martinez says of his contribution to the duo's chemistry. "I'm much more reserved than Alexis. He's much more animated."
His partner, 26-year-old Raul "Alexis" Ortiz, agrees. "I'm the aggressive one, the one who gets the crowds jumping."
Born in Cidra, Puerto Rico, and raised between the towns of Cidra and Cayey, Alexis first made his mark on the reggaeton scene in 1994, when he appeared on DJ Stefano Vol. 2 alongside two neighborhood friends.
Although he knew music was his calling, he found himself secluded from the genre's pioneers by virtue of living outside of the metropolitan area, the hub of activity at that time. Frustrated by the hardships of gaining recognition, he decided to retire and spent almost five years away from the studio.
Similarly, Cayey native Fido started pursuing his musical ambitions at an early age.
"I've been singing since the music was called 'underground,' before it was even named reggaeton," he says. "I started when I was 11 years old. Around the time when Vico C released La Recta Final, I was doing talent shows and performing wherever I could."
But like Alexis, Fido was discouraged by the competitive nature of the developing movement and decided to put his career on pause for a few years. That is, until, he saw the streets' growing interest in the musical form.
"I started getting back into it when people started selling their own cassette tapes in the streets," he recalls. "We'd record our own tapes at home, wrap them in some plastic and sell them on the street."
In 1995, Fido scored an appearance on a DJ Stefano production, followed by a single on DJ Nelson's Little Boys from the Underground 3.
But despite the inroads he'd made, Fido felt overwhelmed by the difficulties before him. He once again decided to withdraw from the scene but, this time, he envisioned a different life for himself, enlisting in the Army and executing a four-year stint.
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"I was frustrated again - I felt like we weren't being given the opportunities that we deserved because we weren't from the metropolitan area," Fido says. "Back then, they used to say that Carolina was the reggaeton Mecca."
While Fido was in the military, his good friend Yandel (of the duo Wisin y Yandel) linked up with Wisin during an MC competition in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Their newly established partnership proved fruitful, and they quickly began to raise eyebrows among the genre's frontrunners.
"I've known Yandel since I was in sixth grade," Fido says. "I was the one who told Yandel he needed to start performing. When I came back from the Army and he had teamed up with Wisin, they decided to help me."
Meanwhile, Alexis made his reentry into the genre in the year 2000, appearing in La Mision III with the songs Sigan Perreando and Otra Noche Mas, and in the production Grayskull with the party anthem Manos Arriba. He then appeared in Wisin y Yandel's De Otra Manera and on both Wisin and Yandel's subsequent solo albums.
"I was friends with Wisin," Alexis says. "We used to sing around the neighborhood together, and Fido was always with Yande, so we were all part of the same crew. After Wisin y Yandel got together, Fido and I spent even more time with each other."
Still, the two continued to pursue their own separate paths. It wasn't until the compilation album Desafio that Alexis y Fido tested out their potential as a duo.
"There were 23 tracks recorded already so there was only room for one more track in the production," Alexis says. "One of us was going to be omitted so the producers suggested that we perform together."
Their synergy was palpable and so the two continued to perform together, displaying their skills on songs like Gata Racing off of Blin Blin Vol. 1 and El Palo on El Band 2 Korrupto.
"El Palo was a real turning point in our careers," Alexis says of the song that thrust them into the limelight in 2003. "That was the song that earned us our respect." Fido agrees wholeheartedly, "El Palo would have been as big as Gasolina, but the album wasn't funded appropriately so it wasn't really promoted overseas, but in Puerto Rico it was the No. 1 song for months."
After El Palo's success, the duo was in heavy demand. They recorded such hits as Tocale Bocina on Noriega's Contra La Corriente, El Rolo on La Mision IV and Gata Michu Michu on the top-selling Hector El Bambino Presenta Los Anormales.
They quickly became known as "Los Pitbulls" because of Alexis' tendency to bark on his records. He introduced the trademark sound early on in his career at Yandel's prompting.
"One time, I went out with my son and Yandel and his son," Alexis says. "When we were on our way home, both kids started getting cranky, and I started making barking noises to make them laugh. Yandel was like, 'How do you do that? You have to put that in your records!' After that, I started using the slogan 'Alexis el Pitbull ladrando' (Alexis the Pitbull barking). "
He says that although the "Pitbull" moniker was initially his, Fido more than deserves to share the title. "I'm the one who barks, but Fido is the one who bites," he jokes.
After years of performing together and amassing a huge fan in Puerto Rico, the duo unleashed their picaresque song El Tiburon on Luny Tunes' Latin Grammy-nominated album Mas Flow 2, which was released earlier this year. The song established them as international superstars.
"People really appreciate our originality," Alexis says. "We have fun concepts and we use la lot of adult humor. The sexual aspect of our lyrics is only evident to adults, and we make sure that we never say anything that could be offensive towards women."
For his part, Fido has earned a name for himself as an accomplished beatmaker. He was responsible for the unique rhythmic patterns Wisin y Yandel's En La Disco Bailoteo and Esta Noche Hay Pelea, and he produced the singles Dale Caliente, El Muro and No Me Dejes Solo on Daddy Yankee's multi-platinum-selling Barrio Fino album.
"I made those songs from beginning to end," Fido says. "Urba y Monserrate did the mixing on those tracks, but I came up with the rhythms."
His production genius is evident in Los Pitbulls through such singles as Eso Ehhh, El Cumbiaton and Tu No Sabes, which he concocted with the help of producer Nesty.
"Sonically, this album has a bit of everything," Alexis says. "El Cumbiaton mixes cumbia with mariachi sounds, Perro Caliente uses beatboxing sounds, Tributo Borincano has a dancehall flavor and Tu no Sabes is a softer ballad-style song."
The much-anticipated effort features appearances by the likes of Terror Squad's Tony Sunshine, Hector "el Father," Zion y Lennox, Trebol Clan and Baby Ranks and production by heavyweights like Noriega, Nesty, Echo, and Luny Tunes.
With such a remarkable pedigree and an insatiable hunger, it's no mystery why Alexis y Fido are known as reggaeton's only pitbulls.
La Cama
Alexis y Fido Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Porque aquí es donde chin...
Maman, y trag...
Bienvenida a mi cama
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Maman, y trag...
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!) (Toma!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!) (Toma!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!) (Toma!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(No hay quien pueda!)
Corre, nena, arranca, ponte el pantyhose
Color azul claro, o color "rose"...
Que aunque me de un calambre o un overdose
De tocarte el cri'-cri' estoy "close"
Es que me pone mal ese babydoll rojo
Me pone a pensar, no me puedo aguantar
Si me lo pega en la cara ese cu'-cu' se lo como
No me se controlar, no puedo respirar
Deja que el peje maneje, coteje
Y se clave ese fleje
No sea pendeje ni se queje
La "A" y la "F" por otros niveles
Quieren pero no pueden
No tienen, no me detienen
Tanto que roncan pero a muerto huelen
Quiero lo mío ya... (¡Toma lo tuyo, pa'!)
Que esto esta ready ya... (¡Y yo estoy bien bella'!)
Dale, así que vamo'a allá...
Bienvenida a mi cama
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Porque aquí es donde chin...
Maman, y trag...
Bienvenida a mi cama
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Porque aquí es donde chin...
Maman, y trag...
Ya 'tan sonando los esprines de mi cama... (Aguanta!)
Si la presión es mucho pa' ti, mami... (Arranca!)
Esto sigue pa' alante, agarra la palanca
Pa' tu garganta traje Mylanta
Pónteme fresca que esta noche es de pesca
Y me vo'a llevar to' lo que aparezca
Yo soy el que te roba, ma'...
Si yo me pongo medio lobo...
¿Tú te pones media loba?
[Bend over!] That's right, that's right...
[Toma, coge, toma!] Pa' dejarte en coma...
Soy tu perro, mama y razona...
Bienvenida a mi cama
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Porque aquí es donde chin...
Maman, y trag...
Bienvenida a mi cama
La llaman "la veterana"
Si ella tiene mala fama
Porque aquí es donde chin...
Maman, y trag...
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
Woah!
La cena esta servida!
Come and get it!
Esto es "Los Rompediscotekas"!
Def Jam!
Gold Star!
Ja!
Familia mas familia!
Nos unimos, ¿okay?
El peor error del mundo!
Es subestimar a las personas!
Mekka!
Mekka, el de Cayey!
Notty!
Rifo!
Y el father!
Héctor!
Oye!
Lo mejor de los dos mundos!
grrrrrrrrOWF!
La "A" y la "F" por otros niveles!
Que quede claro!
Alexis!
Fido!
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
The lyrics to Alexis y Fido's song "La Cama" describe the sexual desires of the singer and their desire for their partner to join them in bed. The singer welcomes their partner to their bed, which is referred to as "la veterana" (the veteran), perhaps suggesting that it has seen many lovers before. Despite any negative reputation the bed may have, the singer insists that it is where they engage in intimate acts like "chin[ting]" and "maman[do]" and "trag[ando]" (kissing, sucking, and swallowing).
The lyrics go on to describe the singer's overwhelming desire for their partner, as they become transfixed by their babydoll lingerie and cannot control themselves when their partner is close to them. The lyrics also include some explicit language and sexual references. Overall, the song is a celebration of sexual desire and passion between two partners.
Interestingly, while some may interpret the song's lyrics as objectifying or degrading towards women, the music video for "La Cama" features several different types of couples engaging in intimate moments, including same-sex couples and interracial couples, suggesting a more inclusive and diverse view of sexuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Bienvenida a mi cama
Welcome to my bed
La llaman 'la veterana'
They call her 'the veteran'
Si ella tiene mala fama
If she has a bad reputation
Porque aquí es donde chin... Maman, y trag...
Because this is where they do oral sex
(Bounce, motherfucker!)
Bounce, motherfucker!
(Toma!)
(Take it!)
(No hay quien pueda!)
(No one can stop us!)
Corre, nena, arranca, ponte el pantyhose
Run, girl, get going, put on your pantyhose
Color azul claro, o color 'rose'...
Either light blue or rose color...
Que aunque me de un calambre o un overdose
Even if I get a spasm or overdose
De tocarte el cri'-cri' estoy 'close'
From touching your private parts, I'm close
Es que me pone mal ese babydoll rojo
It's that red babydoll that drives me crazy
Me pone a pensar, no me puedo aguantar
It makes me think, I can't hold myself back
Si me lo pega en la cara ese cu'-cu' se lo como
If you put it in my face, I'll eat it
No me se controlar, no puedo respirar
I can't control myself, I can't breathe
Deja que el peje maneje, coteje
Let me handle it, compare it
Y se clave ese fleje
And lock it up tight
No sea pendeje ni se queje
Don't be stupid, don't complain
La 'A' y la 'F' por otros niveles
The 'A' and the 'F' are on another level
Quieren pero no pueden
They want to but can't
No tienen, no me detienen
They don't have it, they can't stop me
Tanto que roncan pero a muerto huelen
They talk big but they stink like a corpse
Quiero lo mío ya... (¡Toma lo tuyo, pa'!)
I want mine now... (Take yours, man!)
Que esto esta ready ya... (¡Y yo estoy bien bella'!)
This is ready now... (And I'm looking good!)
Dale, así que vamo'a allá...
Come on, let's go there...
Ya 'tan sonando los esprines de mi cama... (Aguanta!)
The springs of my bed are already making noise... (Hold on!)
Si la presión es mucho pa' ti, mami... (Arranca!)
If the pressure is too much for you, baby... (Get out of here!)
Esto sigue pa' alante, agarra la palanca
This keeps going forward, grab the lever
Pa' tu garganta traje Mylanta
I brought Mylanta for your throat
Pónteme fresca que esta noche es de pesca
Get yourself fresh because tonight is a fishing trip
Y me vo'a llevar to' lo que aparezca
And I'm going to take everything that comes up
Yo soy el que te roba, ma'...
I'm the one who steals from you, ma'...
Si yo me pongo medio lobo...
If I act like a half wolf...
¿Tú te pones media loba?
Do you act like a half wolf?
[Bend over!] That's right, that's right...
[Bend over!] That's right, that's right...
[Toma, coge, toma!] Pa' dejarte en coma...
[Take it, grab it, take it!] To put you in a coma...
Soy tu perro, mama y razona...
I'm your dog, suck and think...
Woah!
Woah!
La cena esta servida!
Dinner is served!
Come and get it!
Come and get it!
Esto es 'Los Rompediscotekas'!
This is 'The Disco Breakers'!
Def Jam!
Def Jam!
Gold Star!
Gold Star!
Ja!
Ha!
Familia mas familia!
Family, more family!
Nos unimos, ¿okay?
We unite, okay?
El peor error del mundo!
The worst mistake in the world!
Es subestimar a las personas!
Is to underestimate people!
Mekka!
Mekka!
Mekka, el de Cayey!
Mekka, from Cayey!
Notty!
Notty!
Rifo!
Rifo!
Y el father!
And the father!
Héctor!
Hector!
Oye!
Hey!
Lo mejor de los dos mundos!
The best of both worlds!
grrrrrrrrOWF!
grrrrrrrrOWF!
Que quede claro!
Let it be clear!
Alexis!
Alexis!
Fido!
Fido!
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.