‘They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)’ Is Still Relevant At 30
Thirty years ago this week, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth released their debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother. It’s a great album, but the highlight is easily “They Reminisce Over…
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth Mecca and the Soul Brother
Elektra EntertainmentThirty years ago this week, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth released their debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother. It's a great album, but the highlight is easily "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" It's a song about nostalgia, and three decades on, it can make those of us who lived through hip-hop's late '80s/early '90s "golden era" feel nostalgic. Pete Rock's incredible production sounded great in '92, and it still sounds great today. C.L. Smooth's lyrics eschew the toughness of that era's hip-hop for something bigger: the song thanks those who have helped us on our paths and remembers friends and family after they're gone.
Like the best hip-hop -- and the best music of all kinds -- it transcends its era. The song was originally inspired by the tragic death of Troy Dixon, better known as "Trouble" T. Roy of Heavy D & the Boyz. Dixon died in a freak accident while on tour; his death also inspired the title of Heavy D & the Boyz's next album, Peaceful Journey.
When the song starts out, it's not actually about T. Roy at all; it's about C.L. Smooth (real name: Corey Penn) and his mother. "18 years younger than my mama," he rapped. "But I really got beatings 'cause the girl loved drama." She had him when she was 18, and she had a daughter when she was 21. "Same father as the first but you don't give a damn."
Despite not having a relationship with his dad, he did have an important older male figure in his life: his grandfather. "When I date back, I recall a man off the family tree/My right hand, Poppa Doc, I see/Took me from a boy to a man so I always had a father/When my biological didn't bother." He notes that Poppa Doc gave him important advice ("Use your condom, take sips of the brew").
It's in the third verse that he addresses his late friend T. Roy, pointing out that their relationship didn't start out on a positive note: "T to the R-O-Y, how did you and I meet? In front of Big Lou's, fighting in the street." But it soon becomes clear why Troy fits into the story: he was another positive role model. "But only you saw what took many time to see/I dedicate this to you for believing in me." As C.L. Smooth told XXL, "before his passing, I definitely learned to respect [Troy] and as the years went by I learned to cherish his memories like all the rest of my fallen soldiers in my life that meant something special to me at one point or another."
The song also mentions other people from his life: "My grandmom Pam holds the family together/My uncle Doc's the greatest, better yet the latest/If we're talking about a car, uncle Sterling got the latest/I strive to be live 'cause I got no choice/And run my own business like my aunt Joyce." But even though these people are specific to his life, the sentiment of reminiscing over them is one that we can all relate to.
The song has a big legacy: The Source named it one of the "100 Best Rap Singles Of All Time." Spin put it on their list of the "Top 20 Singles of the '90s," and it was ranked number 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. Pitchfork, meanwhile, included the song at number 35 on their Top 200 Tracks of the '90s. The song has been referenced by Gang Starr, Kanye West, De La Soul, and Method Man, among others.
More recently, in the series finale of the Netflix hit Ozark [SPOILER WARNING], "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" scored the show's most popular character's final scene. Julia Garner's Ruth Langmore is listening to it in her truck as she's driving home, where she meets her demise. She's a huge hip-hop fan (she famously geeked over Killer Mike while listening to Nas' Illmatic in an earlier episode), so it makes sense that she'd be listening to it. She might have been thinking about her departed family members while she was playing it... not knowing that her remaining relative will soon be reminiscing over her.
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth probably couldn't have guessed that their first single from their debut album would tell the final chapter of white hillbilly girl from the Ozarks three decades later, but that's how it works with the best songs: surely Luniz and Guns N Roses couldn't have expected to hear their music in the context of movies, decades after they recorded them. But "T.R.O.Y." is one of the greatest songs ever, in any genre, and people will be listening to it for decades to come. It's a nostalgic track that always feels current.
2012 was a great year for hip-hop and birthed many albums that are still widely respected today. From Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city , and debut projects from rappers like Future and 2 Chainz who still make hits till this day, take a look at some of the albums that helped change the sound of rap.
Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
Top Dawg Entertainment'good kid, m.A.A.d city,' released on October 22, 2012, is the second studio album by the Compton rapper following his debut album 'Section.80' which dropped in 2011. The album contains several hits including "Money Trees," "Backstreet Freestyle," "B---- Don't Kill My Vibe," "Poetic Justice," and more. The project features appearances from Drake, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Jay Rock, Anna Wise, and MC Eiht. 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' was nominated for "Album Of The Year" and "Best Rap Album" at the 2013 Grammys and is considered to be one of the best hip-hop albums of 2012.
Nas - Life is Good
Def Jam'Life Is Good' is the eleventh studio album by Nas and was released on July 13, 2012. The album features appearances by Mary J. Blige, Anthony Hamilton, Victoria Monét, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz, Miguel, Large Professor, and the late Amy Winehouse. 'Life Is Good' was nominated for "Best Rap Album" for the 2012 Grammy Awards.
Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
Williams Street Records'R.A.P. Music' is the fifth studio album by Killer Mike and was released on May 15, 2012. The acronym "R.A.P." stands for "Rebellious African People." The album didn't get mainstream success but songs such as "Reagan" and the El-P-produced track "Big Beast" are some of Killer Mike's best songs in his discography.
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Young Money, Cash Money and Universal Republic'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded' by Nicki Minaj is the Queens native's second studio album released on April 2, 2012. The album featured the hits "Starships," "Beez in the Trap," "Right By My Side" and more. Nicki tapped in guest appearances from her Young Money labelmates Drake and Lil Wayne as well as Cam'ron Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Nas, Chris Brown, and more.
Future - Pluto
A1, Freebandz, Epic2012 was the year that Future dropped his first studio album 'Pluto,' which was released on April 17, 2012. Hits such as "Tony Montana," "Turn on the Lights," "Same D--- Time" derives from the project that put the Atlanta rapper on the map. The album featured guest appearances from Drake, R. Kelly, T.I., Trae tha Truth, and Snoop Dogg. Future released a reissue of the album later titled 'Pluto 3D' with an alternate tracklist in November of 2012.
Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't
Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam'God Forgives, I Don't' is the fifth studio album by Rick Ross which was released on July 30, 2012. Rick Ross tapped in Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Ne-Yo, Usher, Wale, John Legend, Drake, and more on the project. The Drake-assisted "Diced Pineapples" track is one of Ross' and Drake's best songs in their respective discographies. 'God Forgives, I Don't' was nominated for "Best Rap Album" at the 2012 Grammys.
ScHoolboy Q - Habits & Contradictions
Top Dawg Entertainment'Habits & Contradictions' is the second studio album by ScHoolboy Q. It was released on January 14, 2012. The album featured guest appearances from ASAP Rocky, Jhené Aiko, Dom Kennedy, Currensy, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Rock. The 17 track project debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard Rap Albums chart and 111 on the US Billboard 200.
Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1
Atlantic Records'Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1' is the fourth studio album by Lupe Fiasco and was released on September 25, 2012. Production for the album took about three years and was originally set to be released in 2009 but was pushed back due to Lupe's third studio album 'Lasers.' 'Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1' was nominated for "Best Rap Album" at the 2012 Grammys.
Ab-Soul - Control System
Top Dawg Entertainment'Control System' is the second studio album by Ab-Soul and was released on May 11, 2012. The 17-track album features guest appearances from Jhené Aiko, BJ The Chicago Kid, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Danny Brown, Kendrick Lamar, the late Alori Joh, and more. Alori Joh was the rapper's long-time girlfriend who passed in February of that year whose vocals were crucial to the project. On the back cover, the rapper honors her writing, "Dedicated to the beautiful soul of Loriana Angel Johnson aka Alori Joh."
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist
'The Heist' is the debut studio album from the hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis which was released on October 9, 2012. The album featured guest appearances by ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Ray Dalton, and more. Their lead single "Thrift Shop" which later would go on to take home the "Best Rap Song" at the 2012 Grammys peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's second single "Can't Hold Us" followed with peaking at number one as well on the Billboard Hot 100. Macklemore and Lewis also took home "Best Rap Album" for 'The Heist' and the award of 'Best New Artist' at the 2012 Grammys.
Based on a T.R.U. Story - 2 Chainz
Def Jam'Based on a T.R.U. Story" is the debut album for 2 Chainz which was released on August 14, 2012. The Georgia native tapped in Young Money superstars Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne for his debut solo album along with features from Kanye, John Legend, The-Dream, Mike Posner, and more. Hits such as "No Lie," "Birthday Song," and "I'm Different" paved 2 Chainz's road to rap stardom. His debut effort also landed him with a "Best Rap Album" Grammy nod at the 2012 awards.
