The 15 Breakout Latino Stars of 2011!

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Pitbull, 30 

For us Latinos, Pitbull is a homeboy who we’ve known about since jump. But for mainstream audiences worldwide, 2011 was the year they got to know the saucy Cuban American rapper-turned-club-music-star, the guy behind a string of hits you couldn’t turn the radio on without hearing: “Hey Baby (Drop it to the Floor) with T-Pain”; “On the Floor” (with Jennifer Lopez);  “International Love” (with Chris Brown); “Rain Over Me” (featuring Marc Anthony). Mr. Worldwide was everywhere this year, from hawking Bud Light and Kodak in Spanglish commercials, to introducing his own brand of vodka, to giving, um, uplifting performances on awards shows like the American Music Awards with a barely clothed Lopez and giving singers advice on American Idol. It’s Planet Pit, baby. We’re just living in it.