Unlike other boys who grew up in the "hood," also known as South Central Los Angeles, Montell Jordan didn't join a gang. Instead, he joined the church, and he kept his faith a part of his R&B sound that has allowed him to excel and separate himself in the R&B industry.

Montell Jordan first starting playing piano in church at eleven years old and eventually learned how to play other instruments, including the alto sax and the drums. However, he tended to focus more on his studies than music - he went to Pepperdine University, a small private Christian school in Malibu where he earned a degree in Organizational Communications, and didn't start singing until he was 16. Influenced by Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr., Jordan planned on going to law school before he started working with a jazz music group just-prior to graduation. Chi-Luv, a hip-hop producer who liked mixing and dee-jaying, started working with Jordan, and since then, Jordan has focused on music.

When he initially found his inspiration, it took Jordan another seven years to find a record deal. Upon meeting Paul Stewart, the president of PMP Records, Jordan and Stewart flew to New York to perform for Russell Simmons, and immediately signed a contract. His first album, This Is How We Do It, became a gold hit and stayed on the R&B charts for weeks. His second album earned three gold singles and his third album, Let's Ride, went platinum. Though critics were at first hesitant about this tenor R&B singer, after his third album appeared successful, they realized Jordan was here to stay.