Cowboy Troy
Biography
Rapper Cowboy Troy exploded onto the country music scene in 2004 with a blend of country and rap he likes to call "hick-hop." It was his appearance on the Big & Rich track "Rollin' (The Ballad of Big & Rich)" that put him on CMT and into every honky tonk DJ's record collection that year, but Troy's involvement in country music and with Big & Rich began over a decade earlier. It was 1993 in his hometown of Dallas when Cowboy Troy -- real name Troy Coleman -- first met John Rich. Rich was then a member of Texassee, the band that would morph into Lonestar. Troy had grown up on Jerry Reed, Charlie Daniels, and the Oak Ridge Boys, but he also loved the rock of Kiss and ZZ Top and the hip-hop of Run-D.M.C. and Sir Mix-A-Lot. He found a friend in Rich, someone who was also based in country but a fan of all types of music. The two kept in touch as Rich took Lonestar to the top.
By 1999, Troy was asking for time off at his job managing a Foot Locker and heading to Nashville to shop his rap-meets-country demos. Rich was now working with Big Kenny and the two were busy hosting their "Muzik Mafia" nights -- a performer's roundtable known for its risk-taking attitude.
Selected Discography
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