For a cat that’s only been in the game for exactly ten years this summer Pastor Troy sure has released an ass load of albums. If records are correct Ready For War is Pastor Troy’s sixteenth album. Obviously releasing two to four albums a year has its perks at some point or another. For Troy it has at the very least kept his name somewhat relevant in the streets even after most artist of his time would be sitting in a retirement home.

PT ignites his latest album with pure fire on the old school inspired “Comin Wit Me.” Troy describes the vivid details of a robbery gone wrong on the deceit and betrayal filled “Don’t Kill’em.” “PT” turns out to be nothing more than an over forced anthem trial on Pastor Troy’s part.  Unfortunately “Geargia Swag” ends up in the throwaway category as well.

Things pick up a little bit as Troy gets back on some serious reality shit on the hood struggle inspired “Change.” After another misstep on the stripper focused “Holdin On” Troy seems to get things back on track again with the more rugged “Big Body Benz.” Though Troy tries to get a little more rugged on the album’s last two tracks things still don’t quite turn out right on the likes of “Do What I Wanna Do” and “They Shootin.”

Unfortunately for Pastor Troy it doesn’t really matter how many albums you release if they are of low to no quality. The aforementioned sentiment pretty much sums up the quality of Ready For War. Though he continues to show glimpses of street glory, he falls short yet again in creating a full disc worth of rewind material. At this rate his greatest hits CD will be the only thing that past fans may even consider checking for from the Georgia native!

VERDICT – 9 / 20
LYRICS: 2
PRODUCTION: 2
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 2

Not too many rappers in the game right now can claim to have put in as much work as Pastor Troy has over the past decade. With over twenty solo, group, compilation, and unofficial (not mixtapes) albums combined in that time frame Troy has undoubtedly never let his flame blow out. Of course he isn’t quite as popular as he was during his first three years or so on the scene, he has nonetheless strived to appease those fans that have rode long and hard for him through it all. So far 2009 is shaping up to be yet another multi release year for the Atlanta Falcon as he drops his current Feel Me Or Kill Me and he gears up for the June release of Ready For War.

Pastor Troy comes out swinging as he seems to be back on his bullshit on “Feel Me Or Kill Me Intro.” In the midst of releasing two albums a year Troy must be running out of ideas as he recycles a track from the most recent DSGB album for the average at best attempt “Fuckin Wit Pastor.” Once again Troy takes some time to revert to some old flavor as he remixes one of his more recognized tracks for a third time with the very satisfying “Ridin Big III.” Right when things start to look good Troy makes a couple of wrong turns as he tries to appease the chicks on “Is That Your Girl” and then things get worse as he falls victim to the great swag epidemic of ’08 on “See The Swag On That Boy.” Aside from a horrible ass hook Troy almost gets things back on track as he vividly details the life of convict who’s facing some significant time on “Facin Fifteen.”

The DJ Squeeky produced “Talkin Shit” finds Troy doing exactly what he does best over an incredibly sinister bass-line courtesy of the legendary Tennessee producer. All it takes is a heat rock from Drumma Boy and Troy seems to pick up right where he left off in ’99 with the album’s standout joint “Who U Gonna Call.” I’m not sure what to think about Troy’s decision to harmonize on “All I Know” due to the fact that the track is about God and everything good in the world; however Troy should definitely limit his singing escapades from here on out. Though “Heaven” turns out to be another recycled joint Troy still manages to get his point across in a hard and swift fashion.

Feel Me Or Kill Me falls right in line with the rest of Pastor Troy’s pretty unspectacular releases. The album isn’t a complete failure as Troy still shows his early career promise on a select few tracks. The past few years have seen Troy taking a backseat to his once completely gritty sound to a more commercially viable one. Though Troy’s chances of being a real commercial artist are most likely six or seven years behind him he seems intent on never giving up hope of being a MTV, BET, or Top 40 artist. Hopefully for his remaining fans sake he manages to find a way back to the gutter from which we all liked him for in the first place.

VERDICT – 12 / 20
LYRICS: 3
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 3