Born in Bristol, Tricky first rolled with the influential Wild Bunch—a soundsystem that spawned Massive Attack. Making a name for himself as a guest vocalist on the group's debut album, 1991's Blue Lines, he caressed his way into listeners' heads with his hushed rapping style. His own debut, 1995's Maxinquaye, quickly became a cornerstone of the trip-hop movement and ushered in the vocals of his girlfriend at the time, Martina Topley-Bird. Since then he's continued to release regular album projects, with the vibe of his music developing to embrace a darker tone.