Mo' Ritmo Explained

Mo' Ritmo
Type:	studio
Artist:	Gerardo
Cover:	Gerardo_Mo'_Ritmo_album_art.JPG
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
Next Title:	Dos
Next Year:	1992

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

Production

The album was partially produced by Michael Sembello, who had worked on the "Rico Suave" single.^[4]

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."^[5] Rolling Stone deemed Mo' Ritmo "a Latin-tinged debut album of bilingual just-a-gigolo raps."^[6] 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."^[7]

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

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gerardo Biography & History. AllMusic.
2. News: Lannert . John . Yo! Word to Your Madre . Sun Sentinel . Mar 3, 1991 . 3F.
3. Gerardo. Billboard.
4. News: Allan . Mark D. . Rome might have lasted longer with 'Latin' lovers like Gerardo . The Indianapolis Star . July 28, 1991 . G8.
5. Mo' Ritmo. Entertainment Weekly . Jim . Farber . March 1, 1991. January 9, 2024.
6. Gerardo: Suave Operator. Jeff. Giles. Rolling Stone . June 13, 1991.
7. News: Considine . J.D. . Mo' Ritmo Gerardo . The Baltimore Sun . February 18, 1991 . Features . 2.
8. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991. Billboard. November 1, 2021.