Lil' Troy

Troy Lane Birklett (born February 24, 1966),[1][2] known professionally as Lil' Troy, is an American rapper and songwriter.

Lil' Troy
Birth nameTroy Lane Birklett
Born (1966-02-24) February 24, 1966
Houston, Texas, U.S.
GenresHip Hop
Occupation(s)
Years active1987–present
Labels

Early life

Birklett was born in Houston, Texas.

Career

Early career

In 1987, Birklett founded Short Stop and joined the group Mass 187 in 1987. Mass 187's song "Gangsta Strut" was featured on local radio.[3] He eventually was convicted of conspiracy and served eighteen months in prison, at a Beaumont, Texas, federal detention center.[4][5]

Wanna Be a Baller and later career

In the late 1990s, Lil' Troy featured many of Houston's rappers in his songs. He reached national audiences with his single "Wanna Be a Baller".[6] The song reached No. 70[1] on the Billboard Hot 100, and propelled his Shortstop/Me & Mine Entertainment debut album, Sittin' Fat Down South, to the Top 25 albums on the Billboard 200. After the success of the lead single, Lil' Troy was picked up by Universal Music Group, which re-released his debut album in 1999 with a larger national distribution. The debut album was a success, as it certified Platinum by the RIAA selling 1.9 million copies in America.[4][7] Lil' Troy released his follow up in 2001, titled Back to Ballin. This album did not contain a charting single and did not fare nearly as well as his debut. He released his third and to date last album, Paperwork, in 2006.

Lil' Troy later became a truck driver, forming Birklett Trucking Company in Missouri City, Texas.[8]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Chart positions[9] Certifications
US US R&B US Ind
1998 Sittin' Fat Down South 20 6 –
2001 Back to Ballin
  • Released: September 11, 2001
  • Label: Koch/Short Stop/Me & Mine Entertainment
 95 24 4
2006 Paperwork
  • Released: February 14, 2006
  • Label: Short Stop/101
 – – –

Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
US US R&B US Rap
1998 "Small Time" – – – Sittin' Fat Down South
1999 "Wanna Be a Baller" (featuring Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will, and H.A.W.K.) 70 40 31
"Where's the Love" (feat. Willie D & Ardis) – – –
2001 "We Gon' Lean" — — — Back to Ballin
"Back to Ballin" – – –

References
  1. Birchmeier, Jason (2008). "Lil' Troy > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  2. "Free Family Tree, Genealogy, Family History, and DNA Testing". Myheritage.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  3. O'Connor, Christopher (October 27, 1999). "Label Head Lil' Troy Turns Rapper". MTV News. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  4. Baker, Soren (October 8, 2001). "Lil' Troy, Free From Prison, Is Back To Ballin'". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  5. Mariani, Anthony (October 16, 2001). "Never Surrender". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  6. "Label Head Lil' Troy Turns Rapper". MTV News. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  7. "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  8. "Houston rapper Lil' Troy survives 18-wheeler fire on I-10: 'I thank God'". ABC13 News. December 8, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  9. "Lil Troy Billboard albums". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  10. "Gold & Platinum". Riaa.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
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