Jingle bells is how we do it
We don’t know why the 1995 anthem and Montell Jordan classic “This is How We Do It” was re-recorded and, given that five minutes of internet searching didn’t land me on an answer, we probably never will. This post is dedicated to the anonymous superproducer who in re-recording and re-mastering the song took it to a new level.
For those who need a refresher on the song we’re talking about:
The Wikipedia entry describes the song well. “The song is representative of the hip hop soul style popular at the time, featuring Jordan singing over an enhanced sample of Slick Rick’s ‘Children’s Story.’”
If you listen carefully to Rick’s beat and Jordan’s above, you’ll notice the sample enhanced by something that sounds like a cross between a high-hat and a maraca, maybe a cabasa.
“Cabasa” by っ. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
If you’re prone to asking yourself paradoxical questions, you might wonder whether such a beat could be improved upon. Resolving the seemingly irresolvable, the re-recorded version delivers just such a next-level beat. Our paradoxical question is answered resoundingly in the affirmative. The method? Remove that cabasa and substitute…Jingle Bells!
Take a listen. The bells hit their stride at 0:23 and repeat each verse.
You can imagine Montell playing one of these bad boys.
“SleighBells” by っ. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Meanwhile, our anonymous superproducer stops each successive take to scream, “More Jingle Bells!”
Thank you Montell. Thank you anonymous superproducer.
Montell without his bells
