Tricky (GB)

About

Also known as: Adrian Nicholas Matthew Thaws, Nearly God

Tricky built his reputation as one of the architects of Bristol's trip hop scene, weaving together hip hop, alternative rock, ragga, and a distinctly dark, layered aesthetic that felt unlike anything else coming out of the UK at the time. His 1995 debut Maxinquaye, co produced with Mark Saunders and featuring the haunting vocals of Martina Topley Bird, landed him international fame almost overnight. Rolling Stone described his sound as devouring everything from American hip hop and soul to reggae and the more melancholic strains of 1980s British rock, and that restless appetite never really left him. Over the following years Tricky pushed further into edgier, more abrasive territory, releasing Pre Millennium Tension and the guest heavy Nearly God project both in 1996, the latter featuring Neneh Cherry and Björk. He went on to collaborate with a strikingly varied roster including Terry Hall, Alanis Morissette, Grace Jones, Gravediggaz, and PJ Harvey. In 2016 he rejoined Massive Attack on stage for the first time in roughly two decades, a rare reminder of where it all started.