Houston legend and self-proclaimed “triple OG pioneer of the rap game” Lil’ Troy blew open the door for his city’s sound to enter the mainstream. • Troy was a drug dealer until his brother’s incarceration shifted his priorities. He resolved to use his drug money to make a name for himself in the music industry. • In 1988, Troy founded Short Stop Records, through which his rap group Mass 187 released its 1996 debut album, Real Trues Paying Dues. The project found an audience beyond Texas. • Troy delivered his debut solo album, Sittin’ Fat Down South, in 1999. Powered by its anthemic lead single, “Wanna Be a Baller,” the album sold nearly 2 million copies. • After an 18-month incarceration, Troy returned in 2001 with his sophomore album, Back to Ballin, which hit No. 4 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart. • After releasing his 2006 album Paperwork, Troy retired from the rap scene and transitioned into a career in the oil industry.