Mo' Ritmo

Mo' Ritmo
Studio album by Gerardo
Released	January 29, 1991
Recorded	Bossa Nova Hotel, Cafe Al Dente, Cliffhanger Studio in 1990
Genre	Latin rap
Length	49:02
Label	Interscope
Producer	Christian Warren Hilary Bercovici Dr. Freeze Michael Sembello
Gerardo chronology
Mo' Ritmo (1991) Dos (1992)
Singles from Mo' Ritmo
"Rico Suave" Released: December 1990 "We Want the Funk" Released: 1991 "When the Lights Go Out" Released: 1991

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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Robert Christgau	[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 (Mo' Ritmo)" (Mejia, M. Sembello, Brian O'Doherty) – 5:13

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 Chart (1991) Peak position US Billboard 200 [13] 36 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [14] 64

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position US Billboard 200 [15] 96

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. 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.