Montell Jordan

Biography

Montell Du'Sean Jordan was born on December 3, 1968, in South Central Los Angeles to parents Elijah and Delois Jordan, who worked as deacons in their Baptist church. Growing up in a deeply religious household, Jordan developed his musical talents early, playing piano for his church as a child. He attended Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, and later earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, graduating in 1991. After college, Jordan worked for Williams Television Time creating TV infomercials while pursuing his music career. His breakthrough came when he invited coworkers to a showcase that caught the attention of Janet Jackson and Shanice Wilson, leading him to create his first mix-tape and eventually connect with Russell Simmons of Def Jam Records.

Jordan's meteoric rise began in 1995 when he signed to Def Jam as the second R&B artist on the label, becoming the primary male solo artist on Def Soul until 2003. His debut single, "This Is How We Do It," sampled Slick Rick's "Children's Story" and became a defining new jack swing anthem, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for seven consecutive weeks. The song, which Jordan described as "a reflection of what street life was for a kid who grew up in the neighborhood," propelled his debut album to platinum status with over a million copies sold. Throughout his nearly twenty-year music career, Jordan released seven studio albums and fourteen singles, selling more than 10 million records worldwide and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Performance. His other notable hits included "Let's Ride" featuring Master P and Silkk the Shocker in 1998 and "Get It On Tonite."

In 2010, Jordan underwent a significant spiritual transformation, becoming the worship leader and later executive pastor at Victory World Church in Norcross, Georgia. During a church fast, he felt called by God to leave the music industry and dedicate himself to ministry. Since then, Jordan has focused on his faith-based work, co-founding Master Peace Church with his wife Kristin as a fully virtual ministry from 2022 to 2024, and establishing Marriage Masterpeace Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening marriages worldwide. He has also become an ordained minister and champion ambassador for Special Olympics, using his platform to advocate for children with special needs and their families.

Fun Facts

• Montell Jordan became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in spring 1989 while attending Pepperdine University, establishing connections that would support his later career development.
• His breakthrough showcase performance was attended by Janet Jackson and Shanice Wilson, two major artists who helped validate his talent and launch his professional music career.
• Jordan has been married to his wife Kristin for over 20 years, and they began their marriage and music career simultaneously, with 'This Is How We Do It' becoming a hit less than one year after their wedding in June 1994.
• In 2022, Jordan appeared as a contestant on The Masked Singer (season 8) as the Panther, and he has also competed on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test in 2023, demonstrating his willingness to engage with contemporary entertainment formats.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Russell Simmons - Founder of Def Jam Records who signed Jordan and served as his initial industry mentor (Def Jam Records partnership) [1995 onwards]
• Slick Rick - Stylistic influence through sampling; Jordan's debut single sampled Slick Rick's 'Children's Story' (This Is How We Do It (sampled Children's Story))

Key Collaborators

• Master P - Featured artist on Jordan's 1998 hit single (Let's Ride)
• Silkk the Shocker - Featured artist on Jordan's 1998 hit single (Let's Ride)

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. This Is How We Do It
2. This Is How We Do It
3. Get It On Tonite (Get It On...Tonite)
4. Get It On Tonite
5. This Is How We Do It (This Is How We Do It)
6. Love Sets You Free (Mirror Mirror)
7. The Party (This Is How We Do It)
8. How We Do It
9. Let's Ride
10. Falling (More ...)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #contemporary-r&b, #hip-hop, #hip-hop-soul