The beauty of this current renaissance era in hip-hop is the diversity of voices at the forefront. Specifically, the variety of female voices from women who hail from various backgrounds. From the hardcore stylings of Megan Thee Stallion to the confidence-boosting rhymes spit by Kash Doll, women are dominating the rap game, and it’s long overdue.
One voice in particular who’s quietly making a name for herself is DeLaney Yancey, also known as Troy Fayola. Troy, reminiscent of her predecessors such as Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah, creates art centered around themes of Black liberation, Black joy and more. Whether she’s positively impacting the next generation of free thinkers in her role as an educator as Ms. Yancey or blazing her path along the Atlanta rap scene, Troy’s up next.
The midwest native stopped by Blavity News to discuss her artistry, hip-hop influences and the barriers Black women face in hip-hop.
Her mother's influence
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Fayola, who recently lent her vocals to Lacy The Great’s hit song “Locs,” has been praised for her unique flow and cadence that amalgamate to form a sound of its own. Additionally, the Michigan State University alum uses the themes of communal healing and Black love as backdrops to compliment her one-of-a-kind tone. While Troy continues to carve out her niche in hip-hop, she’s reminded of her mother, who she attributes to inspiring her in more ways than one.
“I remember my mom used to throw music festivals where she coordinated and organized them while being the host and the master of ceremony and her reciting her poems,” Troy told Blavity News. “There would be hundreds of people watching her do it so flawlessly, and I would be like, ‘wow, that’s my mom.’ I know many people say that I’m a rapper, but it’s just me pushing my mission, purpose and assignment through a message, which is how I looked at my mother.”
How the midwest shaped her sound
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When Troy moved to Atlanta at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on her music career, it was during a time of societal unrest. The lyricist, noticing the slaughter of Black men around the country with little to no reprieve for their assailants, released “I Love You, Greg,” a love letter to Black men. The song received mass acclaim for its uplifting message and acknowledgment of Black men’s plight for simply existing. While the feedback has been largely positive, Troy attributes the midwest as a significant influence on her distinctive sound that brought this track and others to life.
“While my siblings and I were growing up in St. Louis, Nelly was on the map, and that was a whole different culture that I’m glad we were living in. In St. Louis, many people know who they are and when it comes to music, there is so much confidence,” she said.
“By that time, we already knew who we were because my mom had already instilled it in us. We were just young people who knew who we were while still evolving and trying to find our place in the world. By the age of 10, I was like, ‘okay, I think I have an idea of what I like to do.'”
The importance of mentorship and guidance
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As an educator and hip-hop artist, Troy is an influencer through and through. The artist’s duality in building her students as educators to be the best they can be and influencing her fans to align with their highest self makes for the perfect mentor. However, Troy readily admits that she also values that same mentorship and guidance on her personal journey.
“As an educator, many people think that I always have the answers. As an educator, I need mentorship and educators myself. I need help, and it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to ask for guidance,” Troy said.
“The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that it’s okay to seek guidance and to ask for help because I don’t know everything. Sure, I know certain things, and I do consider myself a human resource, but I don’t have all the answers, you know? I really want to exemplify the adage ‘peace be still’ and seek great mentors and people who can steer me in the right direction.”
The role of the conscious rapper in hip-hop
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As Troy gears up to release her upcoming musical project next spring, it’s safe to say that she’s picking up the proper steam in anticipation. Whether it’s spitting rhymes on behalf of the national food chain Slutty Vegan or creating music for herself, it’s safe to say that she’s a lyrical powerhouse in the making who will soon cement her legacy in the concrete of hip-hop. Many have deemed Troy a conscious rapper, and for her, she feels indifferent about the label.
“I think that term is used to put artists in categories. I think anybody can be conscious. I’m living life, experiencing life and evolving, and through my experiences, this is what I came up with,” she said.
“These are my results and what I’ve done in my life. I am an artist first that specializes in hip-hop, who also lives hip-hop. Outside of just rapping, I’m in the community, and I’m educating. I don’t feel a certain way if someone says I’m a conscious rapper — it just lets me know that I am aware.
“That’s what hip-hop means anyway. Hip means to be aware and to have the knowledge, while hop means to move. So, you’re moving the culture forward. I’m not mad because I know I have the last say. At the end of the day, I have the final say, and I know who I am. My job is to let people know who I am.”
To keep up with Troy Fayola and her work, follow her on Instagram.
