Exploring Tricky & Maxinquaye: The 90s Bowie? dives into how Bristol-bred Adrian “Tricky” Thaws broke away from the Massive Attack sound to forge his own dark, claustrophobic mix of soul, downtempo hip-hop and dub reggae—complete with his trademark medicated rasp and haunting partner vocals from Martina Topley-Bird. Though he loathed the “trip-hop” tag, his genre- and gender-bending debut drew David Bowie comparisons and reshaped British hip-hop with a raw, paranoid edge fueled by personal trauma and addiction.
The story tracks Tricky’s early days, the making and 1995 release of Maxinquaye, and how that essential album was eventually repackaged for radio safety. From post-release fallout to his ongoing creative journey, New British Canon charts the highs and lows of an artist who redefined Black British music long before it became mainstream.
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