Mr. Worldwide made his return to Syracuse Wednesday night, bringing a Miami-sized party to the shores of Onondaga Lake as Pitbull took over the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview.

The night started off at full throttle. Fans of all ages rushed in dressed in their Pitbull lookalike getups with bald caps and mustaches drawn on. A perfect sunset complimented with just the right amount of breeze off the lake set the tone early for for the late night summer concert.

Kicking off the night was Lil Jon who immediately got the fans engaged from the start with his larger than life personality. His ability to mash up his own songs like “Turn Down For What,” and “Shots,” with songs like “Party Up,” by DMX, and Gwen Stafani’s “Holla Back Girl” was stellar. His set quickly turned into a massive DJ party, moving quickly through some of hip hop’s favorites, making the night feel like a continuous celebration of the early 2000’s.

Lil Jon kept the music moving, regularly calling on Syracuse to get louder. At one point during the set, he surprised the crowd with his own rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” letting the crowd fill in the words as he danced and put his own pop spin to it. Songs such as “Snap Yo Fingers,” offered a trip back to the height of the crunk era while “Yeah!,” the Usher hit featuring Lil Jon himself, provided one of the most explosive moments of his set.

By the end of his performance, Lil Jon had accomplished exactly what an opening act is supposed to do; turn an entire audience into a party ready crowd. As the set came to a close, the stage was cleared and more fans filled into the seats. The energy inside the amphitheater never had a chance to fade. The fans remained on their feet as the anticipation continued to build by the minute. When the lights finally dropped, the roar from the crowd made it clear Syracuse was ready for the night’s headliner.

Pitbull emerged to a thunderous welcome, stepping onto the stage with the confidence and energy that have defined his performances for more than two decades. Dressed in his signature sharp suit and sunglasses, Mr. Worldwide wasted no time turning the venue into a full blown dance party, opening up with his hit “Don’t Stop The Party.” Backed by stage full of dancers, The Most Bad Ones made every dance move with precision, complementing Pitbull’s nonstop energy and adding another layer of excitement to the electric production.

From there, Pitbull kept the momentum at full speed, moving through hits that have dominated radio stations, clubs, and dance floors for years. Songs like “Hotel Room Service,” and “International Love” had thousands singing along, while Pitbull continuously worked the stage, interacting with fans and keeping every corner of the amphitheater on its feet. With one recognizable track following another, there was rarely a moment for the crowd to catch its breath.

Video screens, lighting, and choreography added to the energy in the venue. Pitbull remained the center of attention, rarely standing still as he worked his way from one side of the stage to the other. In the middle of the chaos, Pitbull took time in between songs to address the crowd and thank them for having him back in Syracuse. He consistently shared messages of gratitude, positivity, and perseverance.

As the set rolled on, Pitbull continued to pull from a catalog packed with songs that have become staples of parties and clubs around the world. Tracks like “Give Me Everything,” “Timber,” and “Fireball,” kept the energy high, with the crowd seemingly knowing every word. Fans in their bald caps and drawn on goatees seemed to be everywhere dancing and celebrating, as they had no issues stopping to pose for pictures from random strangers who found it entertaining.

By the closing moments of the show, Pitbull had delivered exactly what the thousands in attendance came for: a nonstop celebration built around some of the most recognizable party anthems of the past twenty years. With Lil Jon setting the tone as the opener, and Pitbull carrying that energy through the headlining set, the night felt less like a traditional concert and more like one massive summer party in Syracuse.

Pitbull’s success has stretched well beyond the stage, earning him some of the biggest honors in music along the way. He took home his first GRAMMY Award in 2016 for his Spanish-language album Dale and has also earned recognition from the Latin GRAMMY Awards throughout his career. His long list of collaborations has paired him with artists including Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Christina Aguilera and Kesha, helping turn Mr. 305 into the Mr. Worldwide fans know today. With hit after hit and plenty of awards and achievements to go with them, Pitbull has built a career that reaches far beyond any one genre or audience.

Pitbull continues the tour with a stop in Hartford, Connecticut on Friday followed by shows in Massachusetts, and Maine.