Lil Troy in 1999 when his album Sittin' Fat Down South hit the Billboard charts.

Houston rapper Lil Troy, who forever will be an icon in the city for his late 1990s smash hit "Wanna Be A Baller," survived a scary fire on Interstate-10 this week, but he still had his wits about him enough to deliver a classic quote to a local TV station.

The 55-year-old Lil Troy - real name Troy Birklett - owns Birklett Trucking Company. On Monday, he was on his way back from Arkansas when one of his trucks caught fire near the Fry Road exit.

"Yesterday I had the scare of my life and the blessing of my life," Troy posted on Instagram on Tuesday. "My truck caught on fire while I was driving on the freeway and I was blessed that I was able to get out of traffic and pull over and get out the truck with no nobody getting hurt. GOD IS good."

A post shared by Lil Troy (@liltroyog)

ABC13 caught up with Lil Troy on Tuesday, and after detailing the scary situation and expressing gratitude that no one was injured, he laced the TV station with the perfect quote: 

"If you notice, I hit the highway, making money the fly way. You know what I'm saying? Truck driving is the new way," Troy told ABC13.

"Wanna Be A Baller", which was such a hit in Houston that it crossed over and hit the Billboard charts, features one of Houston hip hop's most iconic hooks that includes Big T singing the line: "I hit the highway, making money the fly way, but there's got to be a better way, a better way, better way, yeah."

Alex Bregman told media he’s kept his walk-up song “Wanna be a Baller” because his wife & friends told him how much #Astros fans love singing it: #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/GfOYfzMLBt

Even 22 years later, that song, which features Houston rap legends Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will and H.A.W.K., was still played during every Astros home playoff game this season as Alex Bregman used it for his walk-up music, which usually started a Minute Maid Park sing-along as Bregman stepped into the batter's box.

Matt Young has been a sports web editor/writer at Chron since 2015. He's proudly from Alief and occasionally sits alone in his four-cornered room staring at candles. Reach him at matt.young@chron.com.