They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)

About this song

The song is the lead single from Pete Rock & CL Smooth's debut album Mecca and the Soul Brother. CL Smooth wrote it in 1992 in the studio, and it was the last record made for the album. Pete Rock built the beat from samples, including a bassline and saxophone riff from Tom Scott's cover of Jefferson Airplane's "Today," and the track reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 while topping the Hot Rap Tracks chart. It has since become a hip-hop classic and appeared on several best-of lists, including Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.

What it's about

The song is a tribute to their friend Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon, a backup dancer for Heavy D & The Boyz who died at 22 after an accidental fall following a show in 1990.

Summary written with AI, based on the song's page on Genius.

Fun facts

• Samples “Today by Tom Scott (Ft. The California Dreamers)” and “When She Made Me Promise by The Beginning Of The End”.
• Sampled in 37 other songs, like “Reminisce (Bad Boy Remix) by Mary J. Blige (Ft. CL Smooth)”.
• Covered once, including “When They Reminisce Over You by Burrian”.
• Written by Pete Rock, CL Smooth, Marty Balin and Paul Kantner.
• Produced by Pete Rock and CL Smooth.