This Is How We Do It

the take

Okay, so we all know that "This Is How We Do It" is a certified worldwide classic, right? Well, what if I told you that Montell Jordan's debut album of the same name is good? The album starts off with arguably the best three track run in 90's R&B with "Somethin' 4 da Honeyz", "This Is How We Do It", and "Payback", all of which fuses both the new jack swing sound (that was pretty much out of style, I might add) with some West Coast G-funk influences. One would think that this album would be full of bangers like these and maybe a few ballads, but the switch is flipped after "Payback" ends. From here on out, we get the more expected R&B sound, which isn't bad at all but still catches me off guard. On the flip side, these more traditional R&B records showcase Montell's vocal ability and songwriting skills that elevate each track to higher heights. "I'll Do Anything", "I Wanna", and "Down on My Knees" are among my favorite slow songs on this album. One thing Montell Jordan does well is that he shows his versatility and is comfortable in whatever lane he's in. "This Is How We Do It" might be more hip-hop focused than Montell Jordan's later albums (as far as I know), but with the success of the single of the same name, you can't really be surprised. Either way, this album is still as solid as ever.