They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.): Difference between revisions

"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
Single by Pete Rock & CL Smooth
from the album Mecca and the Soul Brother
Released	April 2, 1992
Recorded	1991
Genre	Golden age hip hop; jazz rap;
Length	4:45
Label	Untouchables; Elektra;
Songwriter(s)	Peter Phillips; Corey Penn;
Producer(s)	Pete Rock
Pete Rock & CL Smooth singles chronology
Audio sample
	file; help;
Music video
	"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" on YouTube

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"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" is a song by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, inspired by the death of their close friend Troy Dixon (better known as "Trouble" T. Roy of Heavy D & the Boyz) in 1990. The song was the lead single off their debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, released in 1992, and later became a staple of early 1990s hip hop. The song peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The song contains a sample from "Today" which is part of the album The Honeysuckle Breeze by Tom Scott and the California Dreamers.

Overview

Pete Rock in a 2007 interview with The Village Voice:

I had a friend of mine that passed away, and it was a shock to the community. I was kind of depressed when I made it. And to this day, I can't believe I made it through, the way I was feeling. I guess it was for my boy. When I found the record by Tom Scott, basically I just heard something incredible that touched me and made me cry. It had such a beautiful bassline, and I started with that first. I found some other sounds and then heard some sax in there and used that. Next thing you know, I have a beautiful beat made. When I mixed the song down, I had Charlie Brown from Leaders of the New School in the session with me, and we all just started crying.^[1]

Legacy

"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" has since appeared on lists such as Q Magazine's "1001 Best Songs Ever", Spin Magazine's "Top 20 Singles of the 90s", and The Source's "100 Best Rap Singles Of All Time".^[2] It was voted #6 in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs.^[3] It was also number 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. Pitchfork included the song at #35 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.^[4]

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #12 on its list of "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time."^[5] It was also ranked #430 on its "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2021.^[6]

In 2012, Lupe Fiasco's song "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" from Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 recreated with studio musicians and did not actually use any of the original Tom Scott sax or James Brown drums, it stirred up a controversy by infuriating Pete Rock, who said he felt "violated."^[7] Fiasco further references the song in the title of the final track of Tetsuo & Youth, "They.Resurrect.Over.New (T.R.O.N.)."

Track listing

Side A

"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" (instrumental)
"The Creator (Slide to the Side Remix)"

Side B

"The Creator (Slide to the Side Remix)" (instrumental)
"Creator" (EP mix)
"Creator" (EP mix) (instrumental)

References

^ "dtog". soulbrothernumberone.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time. Archived February 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ Top 100 Rap Songs. About.com.
^ "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 - Page 2". Pitchfork.com. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rollingstone.com. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
^ "Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite". Spin.com. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

External links

"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" Music video on YouTube

[1] "dtog". soulbrothernumberone.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

[2] 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time. Archived February 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[3] Top 100 Rap Songs. About.com.

[4] "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 - Page 2". Pitchfork.com. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

[5] "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rollingstone.com. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

[6] "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-07-04.

[7] "Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite". Spin.com. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Redirect|They Reminisce Over You|the Luke Cage episode|They Reminisce Over You (Luke Cage)}}
-{{Infobox single |
+{{Infobox song
-| Name           = They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
-| Cover          = Peterockcls_theyremin_101b.jpg
+| name       = They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
-| Artist         = [[Pete Rock & CL Smooth]]
+| cover      = Peterockcls_theyremin_101b.jpg
-| Album          = [[Mecca and the Soul Brother]]
+| alt        =
-| Released       = April 2, 1992
+| type       = single
-| Format         = LP single
+| artist     = [[Pete Rock & CL Smooth]]
-| Recorded       = 1991
+| album      = [[Mecca and the Soul Brother]]
+| released   = April 2, 1992
-| Genre          = [[Golden age hip hop]], [[jazz rap]]
-| Length         = 4:45
+| recorded   = 1991
+| studio     =
-| Label          = Untouchables/[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
+| venue      =
-| Writer         = [[Pete Rock]] & [[CL Smooth]],
-| Producer       = [[Pete Rock]]
+| genre      = {{hlist|[[Golden age hip hop]]|[[jazz rap]]}}
+| length     = 4:45
-| Last single    = "The Creator"<br/>(1991)
+| label      = {{hlist|Untouchables|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]}}
-| This single    = "'''They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)'''"<br/>(1992)
+| writer     = {{hlist|[[Pete Rock|Peter Phillips]]|[[CL Smooth|Corey Penn]]}}
-| Next single    = "[[Straighten It Out]]"<br/>(1992)
+| producer   = Pete Rock
+| prev_title = The Creator
+| prev_year  = 1991
+| next_title = [[Straighten It Out]]
+| next_year  = 1992
+| misc       = {{Audio sample
+ | type = single
+ | file = They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).ogg
+}}
+{{External music video|{{YouTube|BONgL61snlM|"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"}}}}
 }}
-"'''They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)'''" is a song by [[Pete Rock & CL Smooth]], inspired by the death of their close friend Troy Dixon (better known as [[Trouble T Roy|"Trouble" T. Roy]] of [[Heavy D & the Boyz]]) in 1990. The song was the [[lead single]] off their debut album, ''[[Mecca and the Soul Brother]]'', released in 1992, and later became a staple of classic early 1990s hip hop. The song peaked at #58 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and #1 on the [[Hot Rap Tracks]] chart.
+"'''They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)'''" is a song by [[Pete Rock & CL Smooth]], inspired by the death of their close friend Troy Dixon (better known as [[Trouble T Roy|"Trouble" T. Roy]] of [[Heavy D & the Boyz]]) in 1990. The song was the [[lead single]] off their debut album, ''[[Mecca and the Soul Brother]]'', released in 1992, and later became a staple of early 1990s hip hop. The song peaked at #58 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and #1 on the [[Hot Rap Tracks]] chart. The song contains a sample from "Today" which is part of the album [[The Honeysuckle Breeze]] by [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] and the California Dreamers.
 ==Overview==
+Pete Rock in a 2007 interview with ''[[The Village Voice]]'':
+{{blockquote|I had a friend of mine that passed away, and it was a shock to the community. I was kind of depressed when I made it. And to this day, I can't believe I made it through, the way I was feeling. I guess it was for my boy. When I found the record by [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]], basically I just heard something incredible that touched me and made me cry. It had such a beautiful bassline, and I started with that first. I found some other sounds and then heard some sax in there and used that. Next thing you know, I have a beautiful beat made. When I mixed the song down, I had Charlie Brown from [[Leaders of the New School]] in the session with me, and we all just started crying.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soulbrothernumberone.blogspot.com/|title=dtog|website=soulbrothernumberone.blogspot.com|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>}}
+==Legacy==
-Pete Rock in a 2007 interview with [[Village Voice]]:
+"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" has since appeared on lists such as ''[[Q Magazine]]''{{'}}s "1001 Best Songs Ever", ''[[Spin Magazine]]''{{'}}s "Top 20 Singles of the 90s", and [[The Source Magazine|The Source]]'s "100 Best Rap Singles Of All Time".<ref>[http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/S169.htm 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211184458/http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/S169.htm |date=February 11, 2006 }}</ref> It was voted #6 in [[About.com]]'s Top 100 Rap Songs.<ref>[http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_10.htm Top 100 Rap Songs]. [[About.com]].</ref> It was also number 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'' included the song at #35 on their ''Top 200 Tracks of the 90s''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/?page=2|title=The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 - Page 2|website=Pitchfork.com|date=2 September 2010 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>
-{{quote|I had a friend of mine that passed away, and it was a shock to the community. I was kind of depressed when I made it. And to this day, I can't believe I made it through, the way I was feeling. I guess it was for my boy. When I found the record by [[Tom Scott (musician)|Tom Scott]], basically I just heard something incredible that touched me and made me cry. It had such a beautiful bassline, and I started with that first. I found some other sounds and then heard some sax in there and used that. Next thing you know, I have a beautiful beat made. When I mixed the song down, I had Charlie Brown from [[Leaders of the New School]] in the session with me, and we all just started crying."<ref>http://soulbrothernumberone.blogspot.com/</ref>}}
+''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked the song #12 on its list of "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-50-greatest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-150547/|title=50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time|website=Rollingstone.com|date=5 December 2012|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> It was also ranked #430 on its "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2021-09-15 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
-===Content===
-Over a saxophone and bass sample of Tom Scott's cover of "[[Today (Jefferson Airplane song)|Today]]" by [[Jefferson Airplane]], CL Smooth unravels fond memories of his own childhood, being the son of a young teenage mother, her father and four siblings, and the love he feels for other family members in working class [[Mount Vernon, New York|Mount Vernon]]. The [[refrain|chorus]]'s [[ad lib]]s are provided by Pete Rock. The 12 second intro is sampled from the 1971 song "When She Made Me Promise" by [[The Beginning of the End (band)|The Beginning of the End]]. The b-side of the 12" pressing is '''"The Creator"''', which is taken from the group's [[1991 in music|1991]] [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[All Souled Out]]''.
+In 2012, [[Lupe Fiasco]]'s song "[[Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)]]" from ''[[Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1]]'' recreated with studio musicians and did not actually use any of the original [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] sax or [[James Brown]] drums, it stirred up a controversy by infuriating [[Pete Rock]], who said he felt "violated."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/pete-rock-slams-lupe-fiasco-crappy-troy-bite/|title=Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite|date=22 May 2012|website=Spin.com|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> Fiasco further references the song in the title of the final track of [[Tetsuo & Youth]], "They.Resurrect.Over.New (T.R.O.N.)."
-===Acclaim===
-Although not a chart topper at the time of its release, "Reminisce..." has since gone on to become a staple in hip hop; one that immediately recalls a certain period in time (the early 1990s) as well as paying respects to lost ones, and acknowledging family members. Many critics consider it one of the best produced hip-hop songs, and it continues to appear on many "Greatest Songs" lists such as [[Q Magazine]]'s "1001 Best Songs Ever", [[Spin Magazine]]'s "Top 20 Singles of the 90s", and [[The Source Magazine|The Source]]'s "100 Best Rap Singles Of All Time".<ref>[http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/S169.htm 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211184458/http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/S169.htm |date=February 11, 2006 }}</ref> It was voted #6 in [[About.com]]'s Top 100 Rap Songs.<ref>[http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_10.htm Top 100 Rap Songs]. [[About.com]].</ref> It was also number 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork Media's]] included the song at number 35 on their ''Top 200 Tracks of the 90s''.<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/2/ Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s]</ref>
-''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked the song #12 on its list of "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time."<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-50-greatest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-20121205/pete-rock-and-c-l-smooth-they-reminisce-over-you-t-r-o-y-19691231</ref>
-===Summary===
-"They Reminisce Over You" features a jazz bass line with a constant saxophone riff, and a backup singers' harmony in the background. Verse one discusses the hardships of growing up with a [[single mother]]. CL Smooth talks about how his father did not play a role in helping his mother raise him or his sister, and how his mother was forced to take on both roles in the household. He says that although his mother raised him right, he still needed a male figure in his life. He ultimately concludes the first verse saying that the lack of male leadership destines young men to repeat the cycle of not being involved in their own children’s lives. In the second verse CL Smooth talks about how his uncle played the crucial role of a male [[father figure]] in his life and helped him become a man and how more males need to make a positive impact on the community. Finally in the third verse CL Smooth speaks to his friend Troy. He thanks him for being one of the only people who believed in him and kept him on the right path. He then continues to update Troy on the well being of his family and saying that they reminisce about him.
-===References and cover versions===
-It has been lyrically referenced in songs including "My Advice 2 You" by [[Gang Starr]] off the ''Moment of Truth'' album, "Home of the Greats" by [[Black Milk]], "[[Can't Tell Me Nothing]]" by [[Kanye West]], "Reminisce" by [[Mos Def]], [[Bilal (American singer)|Bilal]] and [[Common (rapper)|Common]], "Ego Trippin' (Part Two)" by [[De La Soul]], "Memory Lane" by [[Nas]], "Stay Around" by [[Talib Kweli]], "It Is Me" by [[Method Man]], "Nostalgia" by [[Chance the Rapper]], "[[I Want You (Common song)|I Want You]]" by Common, and "[[School of Hard Knocks (song)|School of Hard Knocks]]" by Californian Rock/Rap group [[P.O.D.]]. The title of [[Shaquille O'Neal]]'s song "Biological Didn't Bother" is taken from the song's lyrics.
-The duo of Rock and Smooth themselves lent their voices to a 2003 version of the song titled "Reminisce '03", by [[Mr. Cheeks]]. A sample of the song was used in the remix to [[Mary J. Blige]]'s single "[[Reminisce (song)|Reminisce]]". The instrumental version is the main song from the video game ''[[NBA Street Vol. 2]]''. The song was also featured in the video game ''[[Madden NFL 12]]'' as part of that game's [[EA Trax]]. In 2012, [[Lupe Fiasco]]'s song "[[Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)]]" from [[Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1]] recreated with studio musicians and did not actually use any of the original [[Tom Scott (musician)|Tom Scott]] sax or [[James Brown]] drums, it stirred up a controversy by infuriating [[Pete Rock]], who said he felt "violated."<ref>https://www.spin.com/2012/05/pete-rock-slams-lupe-fiasco-crappy-troy-bite/</ref> Fiasco further references the song in the title of the final track of [[Tetsuo & Youth]], "They.Resurrect.Over.New (T.R.O.N.)."
 ==Track listing==
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 #"Creator" (EP mix)
 #"Creator" (EP mix) (instrumental)
-==In popular culture==
-The song appeared in the soundtrack to the 2003 basketball video game ''[[NBA Street Vol. 2]]'', the 2011 football video game ''[[Madden NFL 12]]'', and [[NBA 2K18]].
-It was also used in the title sequence of Episode 2, Season 1 of the Netflix comedy series [[Master of None]].
 ==References==
@@ Line 58: / Line 54: @@
 ==External links==
-{{MusicBrainz track|id=2e2764e4-9b9f-4ff3-816b-122775d97d0e|name=They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)}}
+*{{YouTube|BONgL61snlM|"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" Music video}}
 {{Pete Rock & CL Smooth}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Pete Rock songs]]
 [[Category:1992 singles]]
-[[Category:Songs in memory of deceased persons]]
-[[Category:Billboard Rap Songs number-one singles]]
 [[Category:1992 songs]]
 [[Category:Elektra Records singles]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Pete Rock]]
+[[Category:Songs written by CL Smooth]]
+[[Category:Jazz rap songs]]
+[[Category:Commemoration songs]]
+[[Category:CL Smooth songs]]

v t e Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock CL Smooth
EPs	All Souled Out
Studio albums	Mecca and the Soul Brother The Main Ingredient
Compilations	Good Life: The Best of Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Singles/EPs	"Good Life" "The Creator" b/w "Mecca and the Soul Brother" "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" "Straighten It Out" "Lots of Lovin'" "One in a Million" "Take You There" "I Got a Love" "Searching"