He is noted for an asthmatic whispering lyrical style that is half-rapped, half-sung. As a producer and a musician he is known for having an aversion to perfection preferring to build up a dark, rich and layered sound. Culturally, Tricky bridges white and black Britain particularly in his fusion of rock and hip-hop, high art and pop culture. He drew his influences from rap (Public Enemy) to post-punk (he covered a Siouxsie and the Banshees's song Tattoo).
Throughout his work, Tricky blurs the normally clear sexual definitions found within hip hop. Despite the heavy influence he drew from American hip hop in his debut album, Maxinquaye, he fights against typical sexual representations by, for example, dressing as a woman on the side sleeve of his album cover. Within many of his tracks he blends elements of varying types of music, and use his lyrics to create a much more ambiguous and blurry reality of sexuality.
Maxinquaye remains his most commercially and critically successful album to date. About it, Tricky originally said in an interview with Raygun in October 1996 that he wanted to make an 'out-an-out punk record' and that "I thought it was going be heavier. I thought it was just going to be an out-an-out punk record. But you end up straying. What I wanted to do was a total fast album. Some of the tracks are fast and hard, but they didn't come out like that." He also said that he hated being stuck with the trip-hop tag so "That's why I did Nearly God, and that's why I did Pre-Millennium Tension. You can't see them as trip-hop albums. So I just keep running away from it. But the farther you run, it's still there. They'll find you." Ever since, Tricky' style has evolved away from obscure, sample-based textures to a more contemporary, electronic sound.
Tricky was in Massive Attack and appeared in the movie The Fifth Element as well as the music video for Parabola by Tool. He has collaborated extensively with other artists on tracks on his various releases, including Bjork, Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper, Anthony Kiedis , John Frusciante and Flea (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Martina Topley-Bird, and Alison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp also many others.
After his initial success in the latter 1990's, he started his own label called Durban Poison. Currently he is heading a new imprint called Brown Punk.
Black Steel
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like myself because they never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in a state pen
I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me began to be another one
Public Enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
They criticize me for some crime
I got a letter, I got a letter, I got a letter
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
It occurred to me the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in a state pen
I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute
It occurred to me the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in a state pen
I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not a fugitive on the run
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Nevertheless they cannot understand, I'm a black man
And I could never be a veteran
On the strength, the situation's unreal
I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel
Lookin' for the steel
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
It occured to me the suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sittin' in a state pen
I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I'm not, I'm not
I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me began to be another one
Public Enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
Criticize me for some crime
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute
I got a letter from the government the other day
Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
Tricky's powerful and thought-provoking song "Black Steel" is a reimagining of "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" by Public Enemy, featuring vocals by Martina Topley-Bird. The opening lines of the song tell the story of a letter from the government, stating that they want the singer to join the army. However, the singer defiantly refuses, feeling that the country is one that "never gave a damn" about him or other black individuals.
As the song continues, it becomes evident that the singer is incarcerated, contemplating how he ended up there and searching for a way to escape. He expresses anger and frustration at the way black individuals are often mistreated and misunderstood in society.
The repeated line, "On the strength of situations, I'm real, I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel" serves as a rallying cry for anyone who has ever faced systemic oppression and a reminder that sometimes the only way to protect oneself is to fight back.
Overall, "Black Steel" is a powerful commentary on the experiences of black individuals in a society that has historically and consistently marginalized them. The song highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and justice, and the necessity for marginalized communities to resist and fight for change.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a letter from the government
I received a letter from the government
The other day
Recently
I opened and read it
I read the contents of this letter
It said they were suckers
The government was foolish
They wanted me for the army or whatever
The government was requesting me to join the army
Picture me given' a damn, I said never
I am uninterested and do not care
Here is a land that never gave a damn
This country never cared
About a brother like me and myself
About someone like me who is black
Because they never did
The country never cared about me or people like me
I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute
Initially, I was not a part of it, but then
It occurred to me
I realized
The suckers had authority
The foolish government had power
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
I am sweating nervously while in prison
How long has it been?
I pondered how much time has passed
They got me sittin' in the state pen
I am currently incarcerated in state prison
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I must escape, but I had the idea previously
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I brainstormed on the floor of the prison cell
I'm not a fugitive on the run
I am not a runaway fugitive
But a brother like me begun, to be another one
But I am now becoming another imprisoned black man
Public enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
I am a public enemy serving a prison sentence, and they have limited me
To criticize me some crime, never the less
They criticize me for crimes committed but regardless
They could not understand that I'm a black man
They do not comprehend that I am a black man
And I could never be a veteran
I cannot serve as a veteran in the military
On the strength, the situation's unreal
To be honest, the situation is unbelievable
I got a raw deal, now I'm lookin' for the steel
I was dealt with unfairly, and now I am searching for a weapon.
(Many switch in, switch on, switch off (Repeat x5))
The sound of a swerving steel weapon
Nevertheless they cannot understand
Regardless, they do not comprehend
That I'm a black man, and I could never be a veteran.
I am black, and I am unable to become a veteran.
On the strength of situations, I'm real.
The situation is serious and sincere
I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel
I was dealt with unfairly, and now I am searching for a weapon.
Lookin' for the steel.
I am searching for a weapon.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: William Drayton, Carlton Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ella Boadu
Martina’s voice is bloody incredible
Ultravod
I've been listening to this track for nearly 25 years at this point. It's absolutely timeless. I'm not going to say Tricky improved on the original, but he did manage to make the song his own. The video has aged like a fine wine as well. In the parlance of our time, this song slaps.
Zoch Buppet
He blows away the original with the progressiveness that many black people or music can only dream of in creating somthing original
Edit: Most popular music genres / was started by black people. But they quickly get into a one track mind of just coping and doing the same thing, once they figure out something new. While other people will continue building and creating new things
emory0
I just discovered it yesterday and it's kicking my ass
Ceoil
Well said, and agree
Ceoil
@emory0 Enjoy! Its a keeper, and you'll still be listening to it in 20 years time
K Steps
Tricky, Portishead, Massive Attack. So glad I was alive for that music. Hasn't aged at all
Karl Degraa
It’s aged coz it sounds better
dob3k
Orbital, Underworld, Chemical Brothers...same - hasn't aged at all. Sill pure gold
Christine Snabre
@dob3k Underworld ! Magnifique !