Mo' Ritmo
Mo' Ritmo is the first album by the Ecuadorian singer Gerardo.[6][7] Released in 1991 by Interscope Records[3] as the label's inaugural album, it peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200.[8]
| Mo' Ritmo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 29, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | Bossa Nova Hotel, Cafe Al Dente, Cliffhanger Studio in 1990 | |||
| Genre | Latin rap | |||
| Length | 49:02 | |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Producer | 
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| Gerardo chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Mo' Ritmo | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Production
    
The album was partially produced by Michael Sembello, who had worked on the "Rico Suave" single.[9]
Critical reception
    
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
    
- "When the Lights Go Out" (Gerardo Mejía, Dan Sembello, Michael Sembello) – 4:05
 - "Brother to Brother" (Mejía, Alfred Rubalcava) – 3:33
 - "Rico Suave" (Mejia, Christian Warren, Alberto Slezynger, Rosa Soy, Charles Bobbit) - 4:51
 - "En Mi Barrio" (Mejia, M. Sembello) - 2:58
 - "Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va)" (cover; Mejia, Tito Puente) - 4:01
 - "We Want the Funk" (cover; written by Mejia, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Jerome Brailey) - 4:12
 - "Christina" (Mejia, Warren) - 3:56
 - "Fandango" (Mejia, Rubalcava) - 5:30
 - "You Gotta Hold of My Soul" (Mejia, M. Sembello) - 4:58
 - "The Groove Remains the Same" (Mejia, M. Sembello, Brian O'Doherty) - 5:13
 - ”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
    
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
 
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Certifications
    
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales | 
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[16] | Gold | 500,000^ | 
| 
 ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.  | ||
References
    
- "Mo' Ritmo - Gerardo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
 - "Robert Christgau: CG: Gerardo". www.robertchristgau.com.
 - Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 725.
 - MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 235.
 - The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 279.
 - "Gerardo | Biography & History". AllMusic.
 - Lannert, John (Mar 3, 1991). "YO! WORD TO YOUR MADRE". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
 - "Gerardo". Billboard.
 - Allan, Mark D. (July 28, 1991). "Rome might have lasted longer with 'Latin' lovers like Gerardo". The Indianapolis Star. p. G8.
 - "Mo' Ritmo". EW.com.
 - Giles, Jeff (June 13, 1991). "Gerardo: Suave Operator". Rolling Stone.
 - Considine, J.D. (Feb 18, 1991). "MO' RITMO Gerardo". The Baltimore Sun. Features. p. 2.
 - "Gerardo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
 - "Gerardo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
 - "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
 - "American album certifications – Gerardo – Mo' Ritmo". Recording Industry Association of America.
 
