Montell Du'Sean Jordan (born December 3, 1968) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and pastor. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he developed an interest in music while growing up and later studied at Pepperdine University. Before establishing himself as a recording artist, Jordan worked in the corporate world, but continued pursuing music through performances and songwriting.
His breakthrough came in 1995 after he signed with Def Jam Recordings. Jordan became one of the first major R&B artists associated with the label and helped establish its Def Soul direction. His debut single, "This Is How We Do It," immediately became his signature recording. Built around a sample of Slick Rick's "Children's Story," the track combined contemporary R&B singing, hip-hop production, and a celebratory portrait of Los Angeles party culture. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, remaining at the top of the pop chart for seven weeks.
The accompanying music video, directed by Hype Williams, reinforced the song's party atmosphere with colorful sets, choreography, and a strong emphasis on Jordan as both singer and performer. The single received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and became one of the defining crossover hits of 1995. Jordan's debut album, also titled "This Is How We Do It," reached the top 15 of the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. Its follow-up single, "Somethin' 4 da Honeyz," continued his commercial run and showed his ability to move between rap-influenced material and smoother romantic R&B.
Jordan followed the debut with "More..." in 1996. The album included "I Like," a song that also appeared in the soundtrack and film "The Nutty Professor," in which Jordan made a cameo. His third album, "Let's Ride," arrived in 1998 and featured the title track with Master P and Silkk the Shocker. The collaboration connected Jordan's melodic style with the harder-edged sound of No Limit Records. In 1999, he released "Get It On... Tonite," whose title single became another major hit and remains one of his best-known recordings.
During this period, Jordan also worked as a songwriter and producer for other performers. Among his notable credits was his involvement with Deborah Cox's "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," a prominent late-1990s R&B hit. His own 2002 album, "Montell Jordan," marked a more mature phase in his writing and presentation. After leaving Def Soul, he issued "Life After Def" through Koch Records in 2003, followed by "Let It Rain" in 2008.
Jordan later shifted much of his attention from secular R&B to Christian music and ministry. He served as a worship leader at Victory World Church in Georgia and became involved with Victory World Music. The collective's "Shake Heaven" introduced his work to the contemporary Christian and worship audience and earned recognition in that field.
After more than a decade away from R&B album releases, Jordan returned with "Masterpeace" in 2019. The project reflected his interest in marriage, faith, and mature relationships while retaining elements of his established soul style. He has continued to perform "This Is How We Do It" for television and live audiences, including an appearance on "The Masked Singer" in 2022. In 2025, he revisited his breakthrough with a new collaboration titled "How We Do It," part of the song's 30th-anniversary celebrations. His career therefore spans a distinctive arc from 1990s hip-hop soul stardom to songwriting, worship music, ministry, and renewed engagement with the audience that first embraced him.