close
Jump to content

This Is How We Do It

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"This Is How We Do It"
BERJAYA
Single by Montell Jordan
from the album This Is How We Do It
ReleasedFebruary 5, 1995 (1995-02-05)
Genre
Length
  • 4:37 (album version)
  • 3:59 (radio edit)
  • 3:39 (without rap)
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Montell Jordan
  • Oji Pierce
Montell Jordan singles chronology
"This Is How We Do It"
(1995)		 "Somethin' 4 da Honeyz"
(1995)
Music video
"This Is How We Do It" on YouTube

"This Is How We Do It" is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Montell Jordan. It was released by Def Jam Recordings in February 1995, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name (1995). The single was Def Jam's first R&B release, and is Jordan's signature song.[4][5]

The song is a tribute to South Central Los Angeles party culture in the hip hop soul style popular at the time.[2][4] It features Jordan singing over an enhanced Teddy Riley drumbeat sample of Slick Rick's "Children's Story" which in turn has an added interpolation of the bass of Bob James' "Nautilus".[3] "This Is How We Do It" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on April 15, 1995, rising from number six the previous week and displacing Madonna's "Take a Bow" from the top spot. It remained at number one for seven consecutive weeks. It was also number one for seven weeks on the R&B singles chart.[6] The single sold one million copies domestically and received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7][8] The accompanying music video for "This Is How We Do It" was directed by Hype Williams.[9][10]

The song earned Jordan a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. The same year, the song was named Best R&B 12-inch at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]

Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel found that the track "combines enough elements to make for an unavoidable crossover hit, as Jordan's lilting voice meshes with "phat" beats, an incessant title refrain and a sample of rapper Slick Rick's 'Children's Story'."[12] Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times felt the American R&B crooner and songwriter "has a youthful bravado", describing the song as "hard-slammin'".[13] Simon Price from Melody Maker viewed it as "Bobby Brown grooves with Snoop Dogg rhymes".[14] Another Melody Maker editor, David Stubbs, noted its "auto-pilot, fast-buck, anthemic swingbeat with the usual ring-a-ring-a-roses singalong chant and laboured partytime chorus."[15] Dele Fadele from NME praised it as "anthemic, defiant, and catchy".[16]

Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote, "This record is typical of everything that urban contemporary soul is about with its chugging swing/funk rhythms and intense Aaron Hall-style vocal and it's been flying out on import lately. Its main appeal is the infectious multi-vocal chorus, blasting out the song's title to ram home its anthemic qualities." He remarked that "there's masses of dancefloor appeal".[17] Another RM editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "soulfully whined, chanted and rapped rolling jackswing joller" in his weekly Dance column.[18] Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave 'This Is How We Do It' four out of five, adding, "He is Montell Jordan, and he's a very clever bloke, who's made a record that combines the best of gangsta rap with a fantastic classic soul voice." He concluded that "this is a very likely cross-over hit here [in the UK] too."[19]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "This Is How We Do It" was directed by American music video and film director Hype Williams.[9][10] The video opens at a house party with people mingling. Jordan sings and dances at the party, with back dancers on a sound stage, and later sitting in a booth with a woman. It was nominated for two awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, in the categories for Best Dance Video and Best R&B Video,[10] and nominated for Best New Artist Clip in the category for R&B/Urban at the 1995 Billboard Music Video Awards.[20] Remastered in HD, the video has generated more than 194 million views on YouTube as of February 2025.[21]

Impact and legacy

[edit]

British music newspaper NME ranked "This Is How We Do It" number 12 in their list of the Top 20 of 1995 in December 1995.[22] In 1996, the song earned Jordan a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. The same year, the song was named Best R&B 12-inch at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami.[11] German magazine Spex included "This Is How We Do It" in their "The Best Singles of the Century" list in 1999.[23]

Track listing

[edit]
  • CD single, Europe (1995)
  1. "This Is How We Do It" (LP Version) — 3:59
  2. "This Is How We Do It" (LP Instrumental) — 3:44
  3. "I Wanna" (LP Version) — 5:25
  4. "This Is How We Do It" (Acappella) — 3:47
  • CD single, UK (1995)
  1. "This Is How We Do It" (Radio Mix) — 3:43
  2. "This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Radio Mix) — 3:46
  3. "This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Club Mix) — 5:19
  4. "This Is How We Do It" (Barr 9 Mix) — 4:05
  5. "This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Dub Mix) — 4:51
  6. "This Is How We Do It" (Wino Mix) — 3:58

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[68] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 5, 1995 N/a [69]
Japan April 26, 1995 CD Rush Associated Labels [70]
United Kingdom May 1, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [71]
Australia May 8, 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
[72]

Mis-Teeq version

[edit]
"This Is How We Do It"
BERJAYA
Single by Mis-Teeq
from the album Lickin' on Both Sides
A-side"Roll On"
ReleasedJune 17, 2002 (2002-06-17)[73]
Genre
Length3:47
Label
Songwriters
  • Montell Jordan
  • Oji Pierce
Producers
Mis-Teeq singles chronology
"B with Me"
(2002)		 "Roll On" / "This Is How We Do It"
(2002)		 "Scandalous"
(2003)
Music video
"Roll On" / "This Is How We Do It" on YouTube

In 2002, British girl group Mis-Teeq released their version as a double A-side with "Roll On". It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart,[75] faring four places higher than the original there. The recording by Jordan was featured in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse alongside the Rishi Rich mix of Mis-Teeq's version. The Rishi Rich remix of "This Is How We Do It" is included on the film's soundtrack. "This Is How We Do It" is included on the special edition of the album Lickin' on Both Sides.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2002)[a] Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[76]42
Australian Urban (ARIA)[77]13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[78] 34
Germany (GfK)[79]100
Ireland (IRMA)[80]41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[81]25
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)[82]19
UK Singles (Official Charts)[75]7

"The Party (This Is How We Do It)"

[edit]
"The Party (This Is How We Do It)"
Single by Joe Stone featuring Montell Jordan
ReleasedMay 15, 2015[83]
Recorded2015
GenreHouse
Length3:04
LabelSpinnin'
SongwriterMontell Jordan
Joe Stone singles chronology
"The Party (This Is How We Do It)"
(2015)		 "Until the Morning (Joe Stone Remix)"
(2015)

Dutch DJ Joe Stone released a remixed version of the song in 2015 with Jordan credited as the featured artist.

Formats and track listings

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."The Party (This Is How We Do It) (Original Mix)" (featuring Montell Jordan)4:44
2."The Party (This Is How We Do It) (Radio Edit)" (featuring Montell Jordan)3:04

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[84]65
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)[85]9
UK Dance (Official Charts)[86]9
UK Singles (Official Charts)[87]17
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[88]14

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label
Ireland July 31, 2015 Digital download Spinnin'
United Kingdom[89]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ "This Is How We Do It" charted as a double A-side single with "Roll On"

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. January 2002. p. 124. ISSN 1070-4701.
  2. 1 2 Gardner, Elysa (1999). "Hip-Hop Soul". In Light, Alan (ed.). The Vibe History of Hip-Hop (1st ed.). Three Rivers Press. pp. 307–317.
  3. 1 2 Ernest Baker; Alysa Lechner; David Drake; Insanul Ahmed; Tannis Spencer (March 19, 2013). "The 50 Best R&B Songs That Flipped Rap Beats". Complex. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Reynolds, J.R. (June 3, 1995). "Is Hip-Hop's Growing Dominance of R&B an Evolutionary Step, Or Is It Displacing Traditional Soul Music Altogether?". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 22. p. 2.
  5. ↑ "The 53 Best R&B Songs of the '90s". Pitchfork. November 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 310.
  7. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard Communications. Vol. 108, no. 3. January 20, 1996. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "American certifications – Jordan, Montell – This Is How We Do It". Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. 1 2 "This Is How We Do It (1995) by Montell Jordan". IMVDb. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "Montell Jordan: This Is How We Do It". IMDb. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Euro-focused Miami Gets Thumbs Up" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). March 30, 1996. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Chuck (April 14, 1995). "Collective Soul Priming To Be More Than Opener". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Connie (April 16, 1995). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ Price, Simon (May 13, 1995). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 38. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  15. ↑ Stubbs, David (May 13, 1995). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ Fadele, Dele (April 29, 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 40. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  17. ↑ Tee, Ralph (February 18, 1995). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ Hamilton, James (May 13, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ Frith, Mark (May 10, 1995). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 61. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Weezer, TLC Lead Noms For Billboard Music Vid Awards" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 44. November 4, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It". YouTube. June 17, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  22. ↑ "'Tonic Boom! The On Top 20". NME. December 23, 1995. p. 35. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Die besten Singles aller Zeiten at home.rhein-zeitung.de". Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  25. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  27. ↑ "Hits of the World: Canada" (PDF). Billboard. July 22, 1995. p. 42. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 9220". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2021. [dead link]
  29. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 9247". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2021. [dead link]
  30. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 21. May 27, 1995. p. 31. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  31. ↑ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 24. June 17, 1995. p. 27. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  32. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 27. July 8, 1995. p. 21. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  34. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
  35. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Montell Jordan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  36. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  37. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". Top 40 Singles.
  38. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 28/5/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  39. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". Singles Top 100.
  40. ↑ "Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 7/5/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 14/5/1995 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 14/5/1995 – Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  44. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). May 6, 1995. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  45. ↑ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). May 27, 1995. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Montell Jordan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  47. ↑ "Montell Jordan Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  48. ↑ "Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales" (PDF). Billboard. April 8, 1995. p. 43. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Montell Jordan Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  50. ↑ "Montell Jordan Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard.
  51. ↑ Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
  52. ↑
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  53. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved March 13, 2026 – via Imgur.
  54. ↑ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1995". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  55. ↑ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  56. ↑ "Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1995". Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  57. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995". Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  58. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  59. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  60. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  61. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-44.
  62. ↑ "The Year in Music: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Top Titles" (PDF). Billboard Airplay Monitor. Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 9. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Cash Box Year-End Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIX, no. 18. December 30, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  64. ↑ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  65. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  66. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". Radioscope. Retrieved August 14, 2024. Type This Is How We Do It in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  67. ↑ "British single certifications – Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 14, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type This Is How We Do It Montell Jordan in the "Search:" field.
  68. ↑ "American single certifications – Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  69. ↑ "'This Is How We Do It' Still Doin' It At 20! – Concord". Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  70. ↑ "ジス・イズ・ハウ・ウイ・ドゥ・イット | モンテル・ジョーダン" [This Is How We Do It | Montell Jordan] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  71. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 29, 1995. p. 39.
  72. ↑ "New Releases – Product Available from : 08/05/95: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 273. May 7, 1995. p. 24.
  73. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 17 June 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 15, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  74. ↑ "Reviews: Single Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. June 8, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved June 25, 2022. The latest cut sees the Mis-Teeq girls moving away from garage to serve up a perfect slice of summery R&B pop.
  75. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart on 29/6/2002 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  76. ↑ "Mis-Teeq – Roll On / This Is How We Do It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  77. ↑ "The ARIA Report, Issue 659". ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  78. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 28. July 6, 2002. p. 15. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  80. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Mis-Teeq". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  81. ↑ "Mis-Teeq – Roll On / This Is How We Do It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  82. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 29/6/2002 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  83. ↑ "The Party (This Is How We Do It) ft. Montell Jordan from SPINNIN' RECORDS on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  84. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Joe Stone". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  85. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 7/8/2015 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  86. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 13/8/2015 – Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  87. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 13/8/2015 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  88. ↑ "Joe Stone Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  89. ↑ "The Party (This Is How We Do It) [feat. Montell Jordan] - Single by Joe Stone". Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via itunes.apple.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=This_Is_How_We_Do_It&oldid=1358650318"