“This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan

To hear Montell Jordan tell it, the recording session for what became “This Is How We Do It” had an undeniable party atmosphere. Over a dozen people flooded the space, pouring drinks and getting the vibes just right. In a nod to Marvin Gaye’s cinéma vérité opening for “Got To Give It Up,” Jordan asked the production team to press record, capturing an ambiance that eventually became integral to the song’s unforgettable intro. In all my years as a DJ, radio host, and now music nerd with a Substack newsletter, I haven’t encountered many songs that put such immaculate vibes into the universe for you to enjoy.

“This Is How We Do It” is also a fascinating snapshot of the mid-90s crossover formula, partly because there are so many cultural elements at work. The instrumental, a booming piece of new jack swing-style production that features a prominent sample from Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story,” is reminiscent of Teddy Riley tunes that adorned tracklists for artists like Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and his R&B group Guy. Despite being a smash hit for Def Jam, Jordan’s debut isn’t a standard-issue hip-hop track. He’s a crooner with a limber voice that oozes confidence and sex appeal. His performance on this track has more in common with the neo-soul mores of artists like D’Angelo, Maxwell, and Craig David. As a sum of its parts, it’s both squarely of its era and, perhaps because so much of our contemporary music culture is tethered to nostalgia, utterly timeless.

It’s also no surprise it became an instant classic as soon as it started taking over Top 40 radio. It hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in April, supplanting the Material Girl’s “Take a Bow.” It stayed in the top spot for seven consecutive weeks en route to a platinum certification from the RIAA just three months after it debuted as a single. Not a bad start to one’s music career, wouldn’t you say?