Album Notes

Six years ago, a group of five childhood friends crafted a hit that would become not only a long-lived single on the Billboard Top 100 chart, but also one of the most added R&B songs in the nation. The success of "The Way I Parlay," the first single off of the successful album, Mayday, was incredible considering Troop had the pressure of creating another hit album after three gold records, one platinum album, and a very long six year hiatus.

The Pasadena-based quintet: Lil' Steve, Allen, Jon Jon, Rodney and Reggie, first hit in the late eighties, paving the way for a nineties crop of Troop-influenced male singing groups, and creating a legacy of soulful classics. Over their career, Troop crafted eight top R&B hits, including "Mamacita," "Whatever it Takes," and "Spread My Wings." Troop's "Sweet November," produced by Babyface, shot all the way to number one. By the mid-90's, Troop saw their second album, Attitude, go platinum, and their self-titled debut and third album, Deepa, both become certified gold. Though Troop headlined a number of worldwide tours during this time, they still found time to share the stage with industry giants such as, Queen Latifah, K-Ci & JoJo, Keith Sweat, New Edition, and Digital Underground. They were showcased on David Letterman, Soul Train, and Arsenio, among others, with an on-screen appearance in the feature film, "New Jack City."

On the album Mayday, Troop took the bold step of developing their own production company with the help of indie label, Warrior Records. Billboard applauded the album, praising its, "impeccable vocals, catchy lyrics, melody, [and] harmony." Urban Network showcased Mayday as an "editor's choice," calling the compilation a "smoking album." Impact added "The Way I Parlay" to its Tip Sheet proclaiming, "Once a name, always a threat! Troop remains a vibrant player." In addition to these rave reviews, Mayday was also showcased in numerous trades, including Vibe, Hits, Sister to Sister, Sin, and CyberCity Magazine.