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 | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | [2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [4] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
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 |
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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.