Trick Trick

Born in Detroit in 1973, Christian Mathis picked up the nickname "Trick" during his teenage years, later altering it to Trick Trick upon launching his rap career. Multiple factors shaped the adjustment; above all, he aimed to distance himself from links to British trip-hop standout Tricky while honoring Detroit underground rap pioneer Click Click, who inked Trick Trick to Click Boom Records in 1992. Throughout the '90s he collaborated extensively with numerous Detroit rappers, largely in a supporting role within Goon Sqwad, which earned modest radio airplay by the close of the decade. His first album, The People Vs., appeared via Motown Records in 2005, at which point he had forged ties with established MCs including Obie Trice, Paradime, and Eminem, the latter contributing a verse to Trick's widely embraced single "Welcome 2 Detroit." Eminem also handled production on Trick Trick's next release, The Villain, in 2008. Though he never attained the visibility enjoyed by certain peers, Trick maintained intense involvement in Detroit's hip-hop scene while extending into broader hip-hop networks. During the 2010s he issued singles and mixtapes and partnered with artists ranging from Black Milk to Ice Cube. The notable 2014 single "Detroit Vs. Everybody" included appearances by Danny Brown, DeJ Loaf, Big Sean, and Eminem, setting the stage for the 2016 mixtape Outlaw.