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.
Yoga
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'm mystic
she treats my (tistic?)
fantastic
yeah I'm feelin' fantastic
and I know what will do it for you ????
and I know
cause I know I'm mystic...]
Don't hold me, don't fuck with me.
Just do it.
[bjork babble] ooooh.
[bjork babble] ooooh.
[bjork babble]
Don't hold me down, don't fuck with me.
I can want it.
[bjork babble] ooooh.
(x2)
(beautiful bjork babble)
Oooooh.
Just do it, don't forbid me.
Don't hold me down, I'm jumping.
(bjork-ese till end)
The lyrics to Tricky's song "Yoga" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The opening lines are sung in the background and contain the phrase "I know I'm mystic, she treats my (tistic?), fantastic, yeah I'm feeling fantastic." This could be interpreted as Tricky being in a state of transcendence or spiritual enlightenment, possibly aided by a woman's influence. The repetition of "don't hold me down, don't fuck with me" could suggest resistance to outside forces or interference with this state of being. Bjork's nonsensical vocalizations throughout the song add to its dreamlike, otherworldly quality and emphasize the emotions and sensations being experienced over any specific narrative.
The lines "Just do it, don't forbid me" and "Don't hold me down, I'm jumping" imply a sense of freedom and liberation that comes with this state of being. The song could be seen as an ode to the power of yoga or other practices that allow one to connect with something greater than themselves. It speaks to the sensation of being untouchable, of connecting with a transcendent force and feeling fantastic as a result.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't hold me, don't fuck with me.
Tricky is asking not to be restrained or obstructed in any way.
Just do it.
Tricky is instructing someone to take action without hesitation.
[bjork babble] ooooh.
The sound of Bjork's unintelligible vocalizations creating ambient noise.
[bjork babble]
Similar to the last line, Bjork's vocalizations continue to create ambient noise.
Don't hold me down, don't fuck with me.
Reiterating the desire to not be restrained or blocked.
I can want it.
Tricky expresses the ability to want something without judgement.
[bjork babble] ooooh. (x2)
Repetition of the sound of Bjork's unintelligible vocalizations creating further ambient noise.
(beautiful bjork babble) Oooooh.
Tricky recognizes the sounds of Bjork's vocalizations as beautiful and expressive.
Just do it, don't forbid me.
Continuing to urge someone to take action without restricting Tricky's ability to participate.
Don't hold me down, I'm jumping.
Reinforcing again the desire to not be held back, Tricky compares the sensation to jumping.
(bjork-ese till end)
Bjork's unintelligible vocalizations continue to fade out.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS, BJORK GUDMUNDSDOTTIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickyg8462
This album has enlightened me so much...I never expected an artist to create such a beautiful album...a tangent into an entire new realm
@BYRONSLAM09
me too dude its wonderfull this album, also i like some "Maxinquaye" but i feel this its better :)
@problemswithmymind
one of the CD that I found in my room when I was young. Still fresh. I love this album.
@derekthiem4604
One of my favorites ever! So atmospheric.
@2012kumite
still rock this album to this day!!!!!
@supplechap5429
This is really unique, I love the sound but I just wish it went somewhere. Theres a lot of tension in that loop, it sounds so mysterious and intriguing. To me its begging to unfold into something else, but it just repeats. Still a neat track though.
@SusiSue
try yoga 😅
@MATRIXULSTAPANULOUTVERSAL
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE POINT.
@heavenvoid78
Still play this album never forget the day I bought it love it!!!!
@EmilianoLuna1133
So trippy! I love it!