Pastor Troy, one of the South’s brightest young rappers, is decked out in a natural-tone Mecca outfit, grubbing on some chicken fingers and talking all kinds of shit, yet there’s something strikingly different about this country boy. He doesn’t jester around like some backwoods idiot on Jerry Springer’s stage. Troy, 24, talks with some sense. True, his words come out much like Barney Fife’s used to on “The Andy Griffith Show,” but dude’s take on Black Folks in post-9/11 America and rappers in the music biz is dead-on. And just wait ’til you hear him speak on the future of Southern Hip Hop. Shawty gets downright scholarly.
Georgia girls and boys have been gettin’ schooled by Troy on a number of subjects, from Crunk Music 101 to Boisterous Stage Commanding for Dummies for a couple of years now. “Are We Cuttin’?,” the lead single from the smash hit movie XXX, is Pastor Troy’s first musical lesson truly stretching beyond Dixie’s reach. A humbled Troy (born Micah Levar Troy) thanks a lot of folks for helping him get his extra loud message across: his parents, especially a stern, military father, for guidance; his highly-touted producer friends, namely Timbaland and Jazze Pha, for their chaotic beats; and his excited label, Universal, for the exposure.
But right now Pastor Troy’s cool. He’s pacing around the comfy suite Universal has acquired for him. He’s eating his chicken fingers. He’s ready to roll. The South’s been ready. Here’s hoping the rest of the country is too.
Thanks to Nelly, Ludacris and Nappy Roots, it’s an exciting time to be from the South. How does it feel to be dropping Universal Soldier right now?
I’m ready. I’ve been waiting on it for a long time. I’ve built an underground following that’s so ugly, that’s just so sick that I know we’re going to be running around this muthafucka like Kid Rock or something. Kickin’ it, man!
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Why has it taken so long for the South to gain recognition on a nationwide scale?
Well, [Master] P did his thang. Cash Money did their thang. And I was definitely choppin’ for that ATL. Choppin’, choppin’. Lettin’ people fall in love with their state. Wasn’t nobody representin’ they home before that “No More Play In GA.” Now you got Nappy Roots in Kentucky. Petey Pablo in Carolina. Everybody is everywhere. But couldn’t nobody fuck wit’ dat ATL.
What’s the secret to making a club hit?
You can’t over-rap the people. You can’t be all righteous and shit.
There’s a time for that, just not at the club. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When folks go to the club, they just wanna wild out. If it is gonna be righteous, it’s still gotta be war!
What do you mean when you say war?
I’d say, just when you’re ready to represent where you’re from. Everybody’s a soldier on their own battleground. You gotta be ready for war at all times.
That’s the concept behind the Universal Soldier album title, right?
Yeah. Ain’t no more hiding. Let’s go. Stand up. Salute me.
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Are all of the military references because of your pop?
I grew up on an Army base. I’m a soldier for real! I got a lot of respect for the military and discipline.
We’re at the anniversary of the 9/11 incidents. Has your life changed any?
I could’ve been on one of them planes. My momma could’ve been on of them. I just have a lot of respect for the dead and for the lives lost. That’s cool, but crackers still ain’t shit! That’s some fucked up shit ‘cuz black people died in that shit, too…You want some chicken?
Does any of the 9/11 talk, the West Nile talk and child kidnapping talk make its way into your music, or do you see your sounds as an escape from it all?
I talk about everything. I talk about the projects. I talk about the Moon. I talk about lies. I talk about the truth. I kick it. A lot of stuff I wanna do, I wanna get across, the label gets nervous ‘cuz you’re gettin’ too serious. On one of my videos, I wanted to fuck up a priest for molesting a lil’ boy. We was gonna get’em! The label was like, “Nah, Troy. That’s too much. We can’t do that.” It’s happening. I get into it, but I can’t get into it. If a muthafucka call me and ask me what I think, I’m gonna tell’em!
I appreciate hearing that Universal Soldier, the finished product, is it about where you wanted it going into the studio? Or is it off at all?
It’s off a little bit. But I’ve been choppin’ away. The boys need it now! They need to hear it right now!
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Is it true that you’re doing a cut with DMX?
Yeah, the first album is about to drop now. But about five weeks later, we’re gonna drop another one with DMX and about four new songs.
How’d you hook up with Timbaland?
I caught him down here at a video shoot. Bubba was havin’ a video shoot. I told my dog, “We gotta go.” I got down there; I ain’t have to say my name or nuthin’. Tim was like, “Troy, what’s up, my nigga?”
Where do you see the South in another two or three years? When I was in L.A., telling’ people I’m from Atlanta, they was sayin’, “Atlanta is about to blow. It’s about to be that next shit.” Next? It’s gonna get bigger than now? Aww, shit!
