I’m way late on this but Zillz just informed me that former Def Jam recording star Montell Jordan has decided to hang up the mic and retire from the rap game.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Montell decided it was time for a major career change. He’s becoming a pastor!

It’s been over 15 years since Jordan, the tallest R&B singer ever (about 6’8″) helped Def Jam Records transition from its EPMD and Nice & Smooth years to its DMX and Ja Rule years with the 1995 hit “This Is How We Do It.”

The song was not only a freaknik 94 anthem but led Jordan to platinum success, and helped solidify Jordan as a leading R&B voice for the middle of the decade.

Now 41 years old, the Atlanta-based Jordan has changed his way of doing it. On November 24th, Jordan revealed that he intends to retire from music this year to focus entirely on being an ordained pastor.

“It’s just been an amazing career. And it has been great,” Jordan said, returning from a three-city swing, one of hihis last. “But it’s a calling that’s probably been with me all my life since I was a child. And I’ve known it. A lot of people in the business know it and have the same calling but that leap of faith is difficult.”

The former rap star revealed that on December 31st, he will perform “This Is How We Do It” for his final concert New Year’s Eve. After that, Jordan says he will only step foot on one stage, the dais of World Victory Church in Norcross. (source)

Jordan hit up his Twitter account recently to explain…

Montell Jordan presently serves as the “minister of music” at the World Victory Church in Norcross, Georgia. I guess that means he’ll be utilizing his years of musical experience with the church choir.

Montell’s last album, Let It Rain, was released in 2008 and featured beat-boxer Doug E. Fresh.? ‘This is How We Do It” will forever go down in Atlanta history as the “Freaknik” song of the year.

Join me for a flashback…

VIDEO: This is How We Do It ~ Montel Jordan