Pastor Troy is a true UnderGround hero, having gone from busting his butt on a do-it-yourself basis in order to get his music out to the people to signing with Universal Records and becoming a big player in the hip-hop game. His style is equal parts gangsta, "Dirty South," and more introspective, meaning that he has all his lyrical bases covered, and it doesn't hurt that he knows a funky beat when he hears one. With the tune "Are We Cuttin'" appearing on the soundtrack to the summer movie smash XXX, Pastor Troy is a rising star in the world of rap; a star set to explode with the release of his upcoming album, Universal Soldier.

Pastor Troy: What's shakin? What's poppin'? This is Pastor Troy checkin' in!

UGO: Can you talk a bit about your new record, and how it might be different from what you've done in the past?

PT: The new record, man, Pastor Troy, Universal Soldier...off the chain, man. It's just a lot of maturity, you know, a lot more development in this album. What an album's supposed to be. I'm not supposed to be doing the same thing I did four years ago, you feel me? We're just expanding, man, trying to take advantage of the whole nation, everything that we can.

UGO: On your past albums, you've done a lot, if not all, of the production work yourself. What was it like to work with producers like Timbaland on Universal Soldier?

PT: Oh, off the chain. You know, that's what I had been waiting on the whole time, man. It was all about timing. It really took me a lot of time to lock my fan base to the point that I have it at now. But it's all good. Now, it's come to the point where my fan base wants me to expand what I do. And that's what hooking up with Timbaland allows me to do.

UGO: But do you still have a pretty active role in the production? Was it more of a collaborative process?

PT: Oh, yeah. I had a ball. With Timbaland, I really just sat back and did it from an artist's standpoint; took his guidance. Hell, that dude sells a lot of records, you know what I'm saying? I think he knows what to do. But the albums complete, man, from the tracks by Timbaland, the tracks by Lil Jon, the tracks by Jazzie Phae. It's strong.

UGO: In terms of style, the new record varies a lot, from hard core songs to more reflective, introspective stuff. Is it hard for you to switch between those mindsets, or is it just what comes naturally?

PT: It's naturally, man. Those songs - it's not like you do 'em back to back to back to back, you know what I mean? Rappers have feelings. Those songs are just certain days. It's cool. I can balance it out.

UGO: What's your personal favorite track off the record?

PT: My personal favorite right now is "For My Hustlers." I love that song, man.

UGO: Listening to a song like "Bless America," you can tell that's something affected by the events of 9/11 and the world as it is now. Have those events had a big effect on you personally and what you do?

PT: Not really as far as my art. But it has had an effect as far as just trying to be more in touch with my family. This music shit…you're out a lot, you're on a lot of those planes, and all that good old shit, man. It gives you time to thank God for being here, thank God for your family, thank God for everything.

UGO: We noticed that you did sample the old Hulk Hogan theme song ("Real American" - Ed.).

PT: Yeah, man.

UGO: Are you a big fan of No Holds Barred? How did that come about?

PT: Oh, man, I just remember that song from growing up. I remember Hulk Hogan waving the flag and everything, man. It just had the United States looking like the strongest place in the world, you know what I mean?

UGO: You also did some study of history before you got into the hip-hop game. Does that affect your music? Do you bring that into what you write?

PT: I try to, man. I try my best to…shit, man, history is everything to me. That's today's events. September 11, we really witnessed history. That shit's going to be in some school books in a couple of years, if not this year, you know? It's all good.

UGO: Where do you get the inspiration for what you write?

PT: I get my inspiration from experiences, experiences of my friends, the world, everything, man. You know, take everything and try to relay it back in song, man. That's what you need to do.

UGO: There was a lot of attention paid to the feud that was supposed to be going on between you and Master P, and then with all the renewed attention on the whole Biggie-Tupac thing...do you think this kind of thing is good for hip-hop? Or is it just part of the game?

PT: This music...this is a very competitive game, man. This is a very competitive job. But we need to start taking it more like I play for the Atlanta Braves and Nas may play for the New York Yankees, you feel me? They go in, they play each other, and they leave it on the field. When we get a better understanding of doing it like that, man, I think it'll be all cool.

UGO: So you're pretty much good with everybody now? There's no animosity out there?

PT: No, it's cool, man. My animosity went to the bank. (laughter)

UGO: What's it like going from doing everything yourself, selling music out of the back of your car, to working with a big label like Universal?

PT: It has its pros and cons, you know? I think I'll be alright. There's a lot of things they can tell me, and there's also a lot of things I can help them with, you know what I mean? It's a nice combination.

UGO: Do you think you have a different perspective on things than other people, having come from a place where you were doing everything yourself?

PT: Yeah. It's a lot less stressful, but at the same time, that doesn't mean don't stress things to the same amount, you know? It's cool, man. Universal's the shit. I just hope that they do what I know they can do, do what they're capable of doing. I know I'm going to do what I'm capable of doing: Raising hell.

UGO: You do a bit of collaboration on this record. Who's out there now that you still really want to work with?

PT: I just hooked up with Xzibit last weekend. That was cool with me, because I know he's going to hook me up with Dr. Dre, he's going to hook me up with Eminem. Those are some good boys to be dealing with, with the kind of music I do. I'm trying to cross over. So I'm satisfied, man. I think I'm heading in the right direction as far as who I want to get to. It's all in time.

UGO: The XXX soundtrack has obviously been a big thing for you. How did you get involved in that?

PT: Actually, Universal had the soundtrack. All the artists submitted songs, and my song just happened to be the most appealing to what was going on in the film. It had the best chemistry. And I won. I won the chance to have the video with Vin Diesel in it, going back to me, going back to Vin. Can't beat it!

UGO: Did you get to meet him?

PT: We just rapped on the phone one time.

UGO: What's he like?

PT: Oh, off the chain. Gangsta. (laughs)

UGO: Did you see the movie?

PT: For sure. It was all cool. I liked all the stunts and shit. They spent a lot of money. I loved the part when they played my song.

UGO: What's your opinion on MP3s and file sharing?

PT: I really haven't paid it much attention.

UGO: Do you think that kind of thing hurts artists?

PT: Pros and cons again, man. Because, sometimes, it's making your music available to people who probably wouldn't have heard of you on a regular basis, you know what I mean? So it's cool, for a song or two. Not for whole albums, you feel me? I think there should be a limit on how much access they have to a newer artist's complete album. Now, that shit ain't right, doing the whole album, bootlegging, getting rid of a million CDs before the artist even sees a dime off of it. But as far as presenting and promoting the artist, bringing it over to a new group of people, that's cool. I'm all with that.

UGO: If you could have superpowers, what would they be, and why?

PT: If I could have superpowers, I'd be able to see through people.

UGO: What would you do with that?

PT: Cut out some of these people's conversations before they even start 'em!

UGO: That's great. Thanks a lot.

PT: Hey, much love!