Lil' Troy

Troy Lane Birklett (born February 24, 1966), known professionally as Lil' Troy, is an American rapper and songwriter.

Early life Birklett was born in Houston and grew up there.

Career Early career In 1987, Troy Birklett founded Short Stop and joined the group Mass 187 in 1987. Mass 187's song "Gangsta Strut" was featured on local radio. He was arrested in November 1999 and sent to a federal detention center in Beaumont, Texas west of Orange. He was there nine months.

Wanna Be a Baller and later career In the late 1990s, Lil' Troy featured many of Houston's rappers in his songs. He reached national audiences with his single "Wanna Be a Baller". The song reached No. 70 Lil' Troy released a follow up in 2001, titled Back to Ballin. The album did not have a charting single and did not fare nearly as well as his debut. He released his third album, Paperwork, in 2006.

Lil' Troy later became a truck driver, forming Birklett Trucking Company in Missouri City, Texas west of Pearland.

Discography Albums Released: June 23, 1998 Released: September 11, 2001 Label: Koch/Short Stop/Me & Mine Entertainment 95244 2006 Paperwork Released: February 14, 2006 Label: Short Stop/101–––

Singles Year Title Chart positionsAlbum US US R&B US Rap 1998"Small Time"––– Sittin' Fat Down South 1999"Wanna Be a Baller" (featuring Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will, and H.A.W.K.)704031"Where's the Love" (feat. Willie D & Ardis) ––– 2001"We Gon' Lean"——— Back to Ballin"Back to Ballin"–––