R.I.P. Trouble T-Roy: Family & Friends Still Reminisce 20 Years Later
On the 20th anniversary of his death, XXL and others celebrates the life of Trouble T-Roy…
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Trouble T-Roy, Heavy D, G-Whiz & Eddie F
Twenty years ago today (July 15) tragedy struck when hip-hop dance pioneer Troy “Trouble T-Roy” Dixon passed, following a freak accident while on tour in Indianapolis with his group, Heavy D & the Boyz. The Mt. Vernon native was only 22 at the time of his death. While casual rap fans may not think of him right away when listing the culture’s fallen soldiers, Troy’s name is ever present whether they realize it or not.
Heavy D & the Boyz, which also included fellow dancer Glen “G-Whiz” Parrish and producer/DJ Edward “Eddie F.” Ferrell paid homage to their childhood friend on the group’s third album, 1991’s Peaceful Journey, but Pete Rock & CL Smooth immortalized him with their 1992 tribute record, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).” Although the now-classic song serves as a staple in most R.I.P. playlists, it was crafted as a musical tribute to Trouble T-Roy, whose name was the inspiration for the record’s acronym-based title.
With this being such a pivotal anniversary, XXL chose to celebrate the life and legacy of Troy “Trouble T-Roy” Dixon, a man few know despite being the inspiration for one of hip-hop’s greatest tribute records. Over the course of the following pages, you will read personal stories of reflection from those that knew Troy best—including former band members Eddie F. and G-Whiz, as well as CL Smooth—and an exclusive interview with Troy’s now 20-year-old daughter, Tantania Dixon, who was only 9-months-old when her father passed. We reminisce for a spell, or should we say think back… —Anslem Samuel, with additional reporting by Manny Maduakolam, Amber McKynzie & Aleia Woods
EDDIE F.: “I think the group really lost something when Troy passed.”
I was right there [when Troy fell]. I was one of the first people to actually see him [fall]. There was a lot of misconceptions ’cause a lot a times people say, “Oh, yeah, he fell off a stage” and just to set the record straight it wasn’t that he fell off a stage. You know how coliseums or convention centers have like the exit ramps that actually go around the arena and eventually go down to the ground level? Well, there was just one of those ramps and it was elevated in the arena. The thing was, though, when you come outta the arena, you really had no perspective that you were two or three stories up in the air. It just felt like you comin’ out of a regular stage like at a school or somethin’ and [the ground’s] right there.
So what happened was everybody was just playin’ around and I think somebody had either rolled a garbage can or a cart or somethin’, and Troy had jumped up on the side of a little concrete barrier. You know how you jump up and you kinda move your legs to the side so whatever won’t hit you and you kinda support yourself but you really on that little wall and kinda supportin’ with your hands… What it was is that he lost his balance and fell over the side, but when he first fell nobody didn’t think anything of it because it didn’t feel like you were that high. It just seemed like he might of fell 10 feet, 15 feet maybe—not even that high.
When we looked over; I just remember me and a friend of mine ran to the wall and looked over the side and it was just way high up—it was like two stories up in the air. It was like the height of a street lamp or something like that. I remember Troy was on the ground and it was concrete down there. I just remember at that point everybody just lost it and everything just stopped.
Everybody ran down the ramp and when we got down the ramp I saw that he had like a big gash in the side of his head where his head had hit the ground, and at that point we just like slow motion. Everybody was just jumpin’ around and just yellin’ and everything just turned blurry.
It just so happened that there was an ambulance right there underneath the ramp. From where he fell, the ambulance was like no less than 40 feet away, so it was like he almost fell right in front of the ambulance. They turned on the lights and I didn’t see them like actually pick him up and put him in the ambulance or whatever ’cause at that point it was just like everybody was hysterical and everything was in slow motion and then from there it just turned into like a whole mayhem of everybody rushin’ to the hospital.
Troy survived the fall. He didn’t pass until [later] at the hospital. I don’t remember the exact details, but I remember his mother had come down and you know it was enough time for people to come down… Public Enemy was performing [when Troy fell] so they weren’t outside, and I’m not sure if Kid-N-Play had went on yet or if they were going on, but everybody eventually ended up coming by the hospital. I remember Kid-N-Play being at the hospital, Chuck D, Prof. Griff, people like that being at the hospital… I’m not sure if they had him on life support or what. I don’t remember those details, but I do remember that everybody was in the hospital trying to see if he was gonna be okay and unfortunately [he passed].
I’ll be honest with you, though, I think the group [Heavy D & the Boyz] really lost something when Troy passed, obviously, but it’s like I think even though the records were gettin’ bigger, the group was growin’ apart ’cause Troy was a lot of things. First of all, he was the glue to the group. He was the one person that really brought everybody together, because he was really great friends with [G-Whiz], Hev, and me, but all separately. We all knew each other, but Troy was the one who knew everybody as a friend. So he was the glue of the group.
Like anybody that has friends; it might be that one friend that’s best friends with everybody. When it’s time to get something started or Yo, we gonna go hang out here, there be that one person that’s gonna call everybody and kinda organize everything and get everybody together and Troy was that person… So we lost that, and I think that’s ultimately why the group started drifting apart. Then, also too, the group wasn’t symmetric anymore… I was always kinda in the background or whatever, but it was kinda like now I’m in the front, and it’s like Hev and [Whiz] were like one person [on the stage]. It was no longer that other person. It was like a galaxy and then you lost something. Now everything’s spinnin’ different. It’s not the same and it definitely took a toll on the group.
I knew [the anniversary of Troy’s passing] was around this time, but I didn’t know it was [the 20th]. I wasn’t one to like visit the gravesite, like I’m bad with funerals and all of that stuff; I don’t really do any of that. I’ve been to two, three funerals that I can remember in my life. That’s not something that I really do… We didn’t go to [Troy’s] funeral, it was just too crazy because it was just too overwhelming and then it was so much press on it, it was in Mt. Vernon, but just like we were all at the house [together].
I don’t have any sons, I have daughters, but there’s a couple of us that have sons named Troy, like [our man] Deo, so you know, Troy’s name carries forward. But I’m kinda glad that you guys are doing this [interview] so at least hopefully this can help the spread of the legacy of Troy and he can get the recognition that he deserves.
GO TO NEXT PAGE TO READ CL SMOOTH’S MEMORIES OF TROY
Classic, I remember going to the show in Detroit the night after he fell it was crazy, I remember Queen Latifah breaking down… As we reminisce over you ….
Yeah, Detroit was the next stop and I was there too. The show was one of the best I’ve ever been to, but hearing what happened the night before put a damper on it. I don’t even recall seeing Queen Latifah that night.
T.R.O.Y.
Sudden loss is always tragic whether it is by street violence, unforseen health issues or just accidents. I can appreciate what C.L. was talking about when he said what he said about Vulnerability. I and everyone else who has lost somebody very close have been down that road and it is a tender moment where you either bundle your emotions up or you release what you feel so deeply. Sometimes working through the loss takes time… days, weeks, months or even years. Everyone needs to have time to cope and be vulnerable. Some of us cry, some of us drink [or smoke], some of us take time off and travel but we all need space as well as some way to let it all out. I just thank Pete and CL for doing it through that song. That really is one of those songs that defined my generation. All he was talking about was so relatable for so many people… it just makes you smile and reminsce every time you hear it. It makes me think about the people I love that are no longer here but still live on so fondly in my memories.
Man! This moment in time gave us one of the most, if not THE MOST, classic songs of all time. I totally co-sign what 9th wonder said in that video. I didn’t know much about the dancers in Heavy D’s crew. But after Pete Rock dropped “T.R.O.Y.” THE WHOLE WORLD knew who he was. And that is exactly what a tribute record is supposed to do. To me, you’re not supposed to kick some shit over the music the deceased artist made. You’re supposed to make the public understand what he meant and what he stood for through YOUR PERSPECTIVE. No doubt! No one will ever forget Trouble T-Roy. Sad moment. But beautiful ending. Thanks Pete Rock!
I was in the 6th grade when he passed. My mom dedicated our Family Reunion Cookout to his passing. His mom was real strong the whole time she was there. My Grandma still has the autographed album “Big Tyme” R.I.P. Cousin.
Wow! Thanks XXL mag for a great article. Let me first say that I am the mother of Tantania (Troy’s daughter). I was so happy when she told me she was doing this article. “We” as a family keep Troy’s memories alive. We Love and Miss Him so much. And even though Troy was an Entertainer to the World, He was and will always be a Son, Father, Brother, Relative and Friend first to us all. RIP Troy! I know you are so proud of your Daughter. She does REMINISCENCE OVER YOU! PEACE & LOVE
Not a problem at all Sonja. We appreciate Troy and what his legacy meant to the culture. Thanx for keeping Tantania on the right path. I had a great interview with her and almost made me drop a tear.
T.R.O.Y.
Thanks Anslem. I thought the article was enlightening. Tantania is such a joy to have as a part of my life. Her spirit is so much like her Dad’s it’s at times scary. But that’s how I know TROY lives on through her. Once again thanks for the story. Not to many people make an impact or are they remembered by society 20 yrs later.
Damn this almost made me tear..g whiz’s brother and I were roommates for a short time in college.
This is so touching. I came across this article only because we lost Heavy D yesterday. I decided to see if anything came up about Trouble T-Roy, and I found this. I remember seeing him at Great Adventures back in 1990. I asked for his autograph, and he didn’t hesitate to sign my little phone book. I still have it to this day. He passed away not long after that. Back then, dancers made the videos what they were. I always enjoyed their videos because everyone did their part, even Heavy. When he was on the BET Awards the other night, he looked great and brought back so many memories. Although I didn’t know Troy (nor Heavy D) personally, I will never forgot them.
Thank you XXL for doing this article!
I remember being a kid and hearing that he died. Crazy. Heavy D & The Boyz was the shit growing up.
I know this song means so much to people all around the world.I got a change to see Cl and Pete Rock live a couple years ago and of course they performed T.R.O.Y.My wife and I lost our firstborn son in 1996 and that song helped me to remain sane throughout that period. I still can’t listen to that song without shedding a tear,but they are tears of remembrance.respect,grief,joy and a confirmation that God lives and sends us comfort from places we would never expect it.Troy had people who loved him dearly,you can tell by the way poeple still talk about him,20 years later,we should all be so lucky to have such an impact on our loved ones..thank you CL,thank you PR and most of all thank you Troy…