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Mo' Ritmo

Mo' Ritmo is the first album by the Ecuadorian-born American Gerardo.[1][2] Released in 1991 by Interscope Records[3] as the label's inaugural album, it peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200.[4]

Production

The album was partially produced by Michael Sembello, who had worked on the "Rico Suave" single.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that Gerardo's "heavy use of Latin rhythms and melodies may give the music a twist, but Spanglish rap is delivered with more finesse by Mellow Man Ace and Kid Frost."[10] Rolling Stone deemed Mo' Ritmo "a Latin-tinged debut album of bilingual just-a-gigolo raps."[11] The Baltimore Sun wrote that "instead of simply sampling some Santana, Gerardo builds his beat around conga and timbale for a hard-core Latin hip-hop groove that makes 'Brother to Brother' and 'Rico Suave' kick like nothing else in rap."[12]

Track listing

  1. "When the Lights Go Out" (Gerardo Mejía, Dan Sembello, Michael Sembello) – 4:05
  2. "Brother to Brother" (Mejía, Alfred Rubalcava) – 3:33
  3. "Rico Suave" (Mejia, Christian Warren, Alberto Slezynger, Rosa Soy, Charles Bobbit) – 4:51
  4. "En Mi Barrio" (Mejia, M. Sembello) – 2:58
  5. "Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va)" (cover; Mejia, Tito Puente) – 4:01
  6. "We Want the Funk" (cover; written by Mejia, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Jerome Brailey) – 4:12
  7. "Christina" (Mejia, Warren) – 3:56
  8. "Fandango" (Mejia, Rubalcava) – 5:30
  9. "You Gotta Hold of My Soul" (Mejia, M. Sembello) – 4:58
  10. "The Groove Remains the Same" (Mejia, M. Sembello, Brian O'Doherty) – 5:13
  11. ”When the Lights Go Out [Dr. Freeze Mix]” (Mejia, D. Sembello, M. Sembello) – 3:20

Credits

  • Lead vocals: Gerardo
  • Additional vocals: Coco, Ellis Hall, Nikki Harris, Anna Marie, Gerardo, Xavier Menia, Brian O’Daughtery, Alfred Rubalcava, Cruz Baca Sembello, and Michael Sembello
  • Programmers: Jimmy Abney, Hilary Bercovici, Brian O’Daughtery, Alfred Rubalcava, Danny Sembello, Michael Sembello, and Christian Warren
  • Engineer: Hilary Bercovici, David Bianco, Bobby Brooks, Bud Rizzo, and Michael Smith
  • Assistant engineer: Tim Anderson
  • Mixers: Hilary Bercovici, David Bianco, Bobby Brooks, and Erik Zobler
  • Scratcher: D-Roc
  • Remixers: Dr. Freeze and Angela Piva
  • Timbales: Ronnie Gutierrez and Michael Sembello
  • Bongos: Alfred Ortiz
  • Congas: Alfred Ortiz
  • Photography: Barry King and Randee St. Nicholas

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Gerardo Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Lannert, John (Mar 3, 1991). "Yo! Word to Your Madre". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
  3. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 725.
  4. ^ "Gerardo". Billboard.
  5. ^ Allan, Mark D. (July 28, 1991). "Rome might have lasted longer with 'Latin' lovers like Gerardo". The Indianapolis Star. p. G8.
  6. ^ "Mo' Ritmo Gerardo". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Gerardo". Robert Christgau.
  8. ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 235.
  9. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 279.
  10. ^ Farber, Jim (March 1, 1991). "Mo' Ritmo". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Giles, Jeff (June 13, 1991). "Gerardo: Suave Operator". Rolling Stone.
  12. ^ Considine, J.D. (February 18, 1991). "Mo' Ritmo Gerardo". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 2.
  13. ^ "Gerardo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Gerardo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "American album certifications – Gerardo – Mo' Ritmo". Recording Industry Association of America.