Tõnu Tunnel · Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SATricky
The Bristol trip hop pillar, whose "Maxinquaye" remains one of the most remarkable records of the 90s.
Biography.
The journey and inspirations that shape Tricky's world.
Tricky gave trip hop its roughest voice: heavy bass, whispers and rap in chiaroscuro.
Born Adrian Thaws on 27 January 1968 and raised in Bristol, he first made his name in the underground scene that gave birth to trip hop, notably through Massive Attack.
Frustrated by his limited role in the group, he went solo with "Maxinquaye", released on 20 February 1995. The record marked the start of a long creative duo with singer Martina Topley-Bird.
He strung together four more albums before the end of the decade, including "Pre-Millennium Tension" and "Nearly God" in 1996, and has kept releasing records ever since.
Page last updated on 6 October 2026
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Credits: Rama · Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SA.
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