Pastor Troy’s Face-Off Is One of Georgia’s Best Rap Albums Ever.

Twenty Years ago, Pastor Troy dropped his fourth album and put Tha City on Top.

“I muthafuckin lost, from muthafuckin' nothing to muthafuckin boss! Face-Off!!!” It’s hard for people to believe it now, but when Pastor Troy dropped in 1999, Atlanta wasn’t the center of rap. Cities like New Orleans, Memphis and Houston had a vice grip on the South, and Dungeon Family aside, most people viewed Atlanta as a hotbed of bass music. Troy’s debut album, We Ready I Declare War, changed the conversation though, demanding respect for Georgia boys and girls. “No Mo Play In Ga” was the proverbial bell that opened the door for GA’s crunk movement. It is the unofficial anthem for the state and remains one of his most iconic songs to this day, garnering love from everyone including Beyonce who used it in her iconic Coachella performance.

Embracing his role as the face of Atlanta, Troy put himself on the front line, going to war to solidify his place in the game, taking on Master P and No Limit at the height of his career as an independent artist. His independent hustle made him a staple in the South and by the time Face-Off came out, he earned a major label deal with Universal Records.