Up until the mid-1990's, radiowaves were dominated by West-Coast hip-hop. Groups like NWA popularized the "gangsta rap" genre, where they rapped about the harsh, dangerous streets of Compton. Popular rap on the west-coast was aggressive and angry, often promoting violence and tackling contentious issues like police brutality and race relations. When Montell Jordan debuted his first album, "This Is How We Do It", along with the hit song of the same name, it was in a lot of ways a breath of fresh air for the hip-hop genre.
Montell Jordan was primarily an R&B singer. His smooth, sultry voice proved perfect for ballads. His voice was soft and pleasing to hear, as opposed to the heavy, rough-around-the-edges vocals you would hear in other rap songs. He was also able to be more melodic with his songs, whether he was singing or rapping. On songs like "Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz" and "Comin Home," Jordan was able to show off his impressive vocal abilities. His talents as signer added an aspect to hip-hop that was deeply lacking at the time. Another aspect of Jordan's early musical career was his inspiration from early blues and soul music. His debut album sampled heavily from artists like B.B. King and Slick Rick, revealing his appreciation of artists that came before him.
Jordan's lyrics were frequently about his life growing up in Southern California. While his lyrics were thematically similar to the lyrics of popular gangsta rap, Jordan provided a much different tone. Jordan was not shy to describe the harsh, gang-ridden environments of his hometown, but rather than address them with intensity and anger, he opted for a lighter, more positive approach. In his lyrics he expressed how fortunate he was to avoid the street gangs during his upbringing and how he used hardships to improve himself as a person.
Jordan's most popular on the album- and of his entire career-, was the party anthem "This Is How We Do It." Sampling the baseline of Slick Rick's "Children's Story", the hip-hop track was energetic, fun, and above all, catchy. Jordan's unique mix of singing and rapping proved to be irresistible to radio listeners. The up-tempo nature and addictive baseline were also keys to the song's immense success, as was the undeniably catchy chorus, "This is how we do it!"
In the song, Jordan paints the picture of a typical party in Southern California: "It's Friday night, and I feel alright/ The party is here on the West side/ So I reach for my 40 and I turn it up/ Designated driver take the keys to my truck/ Hit the shore 'cause I'm faded/ Honeys in the street say, 'Monty, yo we made it!'" Jordan expresses the harmless fun of SoCal partying and his enjoyment as a recently signed artist. He also addresses the darker, more dangerous sides of street-life, albeit in a lighter tone that what was usually expected in rap at the time: "It feels so good in my hood tonight/ The summertime skirts and the guys in Kani/ All the gang bangers forgot about the drive-by." Seductive, energizing, and celebratory, "This Is How We Do It" was the perfect song to appeal to a mass audience. Even over 20 years later you can still hear Jordan's #1 single being blasted at sporting events, parties, and in mainstream movies and television shows. "This is How We Do It" helped cement Montell Jordan a spot in hip-hop history, making a mark on 1990's hip-hop with the likes of LL Cool J, Puff Daddy, and Coolio.
Montell Jordan was primarily an R&B singer. His smooth, sultry voice proved perfect for ballads. His voice was soft and pleasing to hear, as opposed to the heavy, rough-around-the-edges vocals you would hear in other rap songs. He was also able to be more melodic with his songs, whether he was singing or rapping. On songs like "Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz" and "Comin Home," Jordan was able to show off his impressive vocal abilities. His talents as signer added an aspect to hip-hop that was deeply lacking at the time. Another aspect of Jordan's early musical career was his inspiration from early blues and soul music. His debut album sampled heavily from artists like B.B. King and Slick Rick, revealing his appreciation of artists that came before him.
Jordan's lyrics were frequently about his life growing up in Southern California. While his lyrics were thematically similar to the lyrics of popular gangsta rap, Jordan provided a much different tone. Jordan was not shy to describe the harsh, gang-ridden environments of his hometown, but rather than address them with intensity and anger, he opted for a lighter, more positive approach. In his lyrics he expressed how fortunate he was to avoid the street gangs during his upbringing and how he used hardships to improve himself as a person.
Jordan's most popular on the album- and of his entire career-, was the party anthem "This Is How We Do It." Sampling the baseline of Slick Rick's "Children's Story", the hip-hop track was energetic, fun, and above all, catchy. Jordan's unique mix of singing and rapping proved to be irresistible to radio listeners. The up-tempo nature and addictive baseline were also keys to the song's immense success, as was the undeniably catchy chorus, "This is how we do it!"
In the song, Jordan paints the picture of a typical party in Southern California: "It's Friday night, and I feel alright/ The party is here on the West side/ So I reach for my 40 and I turn it up/ Designated driver take the keys to my truck/ Hit the shore 'cause I'm faded/ Honeys in the street say, 'Monty, yo we made it!'" Jordan expresses the harmless fun of SoCal partying and his enjoyment as a recently signed artist. He also addresses the darker, more dangerous sides of street-life, albeit in a lighter tone that what was usually expected in rap at the time: "It feels so good in my hood tonight/ The summertime skirts and the guys in Kani/ All the gang bangers forgot about the drive-by." Seductive, energizing, and celebratory, "This Is How We Do It" was the perfect song to appeal to a mass audience. Even over 20 years later you can still hear Jordan's #1 single being blasted at sporting events, parties, and in mainstream movies and television shows. "This is How We Do It" helped cement Montell Jordan a spot in hip-hop history, making a mark on 1990's hip-hop with the likes of LL Cool J, Puff Daddy, and Coolio.