Detroit rapper Trick Trick's major label debut will be released Tuesday, and he's not exactly thrilled about it.
"I will not support the Dec. 27 release date in any way, shape or form," says Tricky (real name Christian Mathis), seated in the Southfield recording studio he calls the "Bat Cave."
He's upset about his lack of presence on video channels and urban radio. "Until I get the response I deserve as far as promotion is concerned, I don't think it's time to release the album," he says. "I don't want to do it prematurely."
The 33-year-old former street hustler is getting schooled in a completely different kind of hustle: major record label politics.
He went so far as to drive to New York this month to try to persuade Motown, which he signed a joint venture deal with this year, to push the release date of The People Vs. back to Super Bowl week in February. He felt that would allow him to capitalize on the media attention focused on Detroit and to hold a star-studded album release party.
His label balked, however, and now Tricky is stuck with what he feels is a bogus release date. It's a bittersweet way to end what has been a banner year for him.
"Welcome 2 Detroit," his duet with Eminem, has been virtually unavoidable on radio since summertime. Its success led to a spot on Em's Anger Management Tour, which ended in August with a performance before some 40,000 screaming fans at Comerica Park. He says it was his career highlight.
Tricky was introduced to Eminem in 1996 through Detroit rapper Proof. Mathis says they have always wanted to work together, and Em called Tricky this year and told him he had something to play for him.
"He put the CD on and it was the beat, the hook and his verse to 'Welcome 2 Detroit,' and I was like, 'That's sweet,' " says Tricky. The song contains numerous references to Trick Trick and his posse, the Goon Sqwad.
"I thought it was his song at first, and he was just giving me a shout out, but he was like, 'No, that's yours. I don't want nothin', that's all yours.' I was like, 'Good lookin', pimpin'!' "
"Welcome 2 Detroit," which acted as a big-league introduction to Tricky from one of hip-hop's brightest stars, suddenly gave Tricky -- who'd scored a fair amount of independent success in his career as a rapper and head of his own Wonderboy Entertainment -- a national platform.
The second oldest of five kids, Tricky grew up on the west side of Detroit and attended Mumford High School.
He joined a gang and turned to selling drugs after his father left home when he was 13. Eventually, he served a year in prison for selling cocaine.
Now the self-described "mama's boy" with a linebacker's build owns a real estate company and is a father of four himself.
No matter the release date, he's tremendously proud of "The People Vs.," which in part chronicles Tricky's 2004 murder trial (the case was dismissed) and features production work from Jazzy Pha, appearances by Detroit rappers Obie Trice and Miz Korona and a second track with Eminem, "No More to Say."
"This album is about Detroit. It's about making it in a bigger aspect from Detroit. I represent this whole city," Tricky says. "Em did his thing -- but now it's my turn."
Trick Trick, 'The People Vs.' is in stores Tuesday.
Source: Sixshot.com
