Exploring Tricky & Maxinquaye

Tricky—once part of Bristol’s Massive Attack crew—hates the “trip-hop” label but practically invented it with his gritty rasp and partner Martina Topley-Bird’s cool detachment. Their debut album Maxinquaye fused soul, downtempo hip-hop and dub reggae into a dark, claustrophobic sound that read like a trauma diary, earning nods from David Bowie for its fearless genre and gender play.

Born from addiction, melancholy and a rough past, Maxinquaye felt raw and unfiltered—until the music industry scrubbed it clean for radio. Despite that “airplay makeover,” Tricky’s groundbreaking vision still stands as a landmark in 90s British music.

Watch on YouTube