Maxinquaye  by Tricky

Maxinquaye, released in 1995, is Tricky's iconic debut, named after his mother, Maxine Quaye. It is considered one of the cornerstones of trip hop, although the artist himself often rejects this term. His musical style is a dark, hypnotic blend of hip hop, soul, rock, ambient techno, and reggae. It is characterized by whispering vocals, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and lyrics about decay and troubled relationships.

The recording was chaotic and instinctual. Many of Martina Topley-Bird's vocals were recorded in a single take, often without any warm-up. In collaboration with producer Mark Saunders, Tricky used dub techniques, processed samples, and lo-fi elements. Notably, the final master was derived from a simple cassette tape, as it was considered to have a better "vibe" than the digital recording. Six singles were released from the album, with Overcome taking a prominent spot.

The album reached No. 3 on the UK charts and sold over 100,000 copies in its first few months of release, surpassing 500,000 worldwide. It went gold in the United Kingdom. The album's success made Tricky a global icon, something he found irritating, later calling it a "coffee table album."