Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's "They Reminisce Over You" (T.R.O.Y.) gets a full makeover in part 1 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Rock The Mic series, which features the Soul Brother #1 working alongside Canadian MCs Rich Kidd and Raz Fresco to recreate the celebrated 1992 classic with the help of a live band. The series, which revisits rap classics, finds the crew convening at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City to rework the track. The Rock The Mic tribute to "T.R.O.Y." arrives on the 22nd anniversary of the track, which was released on April 2, 1992. Pete Rock rededicates the song - a memorial named for fallen friend "Trouble" T.Roy - to Troy Dixon and his cousin Heavy D, whose sudden passing in 2011 was another major blow to the hip-hop community. Pete Rock touched on the impact and importance of the song after two decades in discussion with the CBC:
“Every time I hear the song it brings up memories.… The music itself puts you in a trance to where you just remember what that song really is,”
Continuing, he notes:
“Because I lost a dear friend of mine … that’s the emotional side of it,” he says. “The other side, musically and talent wise with CL Smooth, I think it’s one of the best songs we ever made as a group.”
The new school MC's do their thing in this touching live tribute to the legendary track featuring the unmistakable horn line from Tom Scott and the California Dreamers' 1967 song, "Today." Check the footage below to watch Pete Rock, Rich Kidd and Raz Fresco recreate "T.R.O.Y." live at Electric Lady Studios. Join the CBC in celebrating the time-honored production on its 22nd anniversary and think back to the first time you heard "They Reminisce Over You" (T.R.O.Y.). Read the full breakdown of the Electric Lady session plus more at CBC Music.
