MUSIC REVIEW: Trick Trick – “Outlaw”

When many think of Detroit, artists like Slum Village, Eminem, or J. Dilla come to mind. Even the rock-star-status-holding Danny Brown comes up. Yet, Trick Trick is a Detroit legend that is known mainly on the underground. A lot of times, he is most known for his street dealings than his music. With his OG status justified, Outlaw is his mixtape reminder of who he is and what he is capable of.

With a mixture of hood lingo and production filled with much bass and anthemic sounds, Outlaw was made with some sort of care. The music is good to say the least; competent to say the most. Tracks like “The Roof Is On Fire”, “UDONWANIT”, and “Living Legend” make themselves known from the beginning. What sets the tone of the project is Trick Trick’s gruff delivery and simple-yet-effective penmanship. Therefore, this music is for the hardcore hip hop lovers.

Still, there is the issue with Trick Trick being overshadowed by the feature artists. Then again, I can’t totally fault him for it when most of the features are from heavy hitters. From WC’s feature on “The Roof Is On Fire” to the entire roster of “Detroit vs. Everybody”, there are plenty of rhymers with hip hop stripes on their shoulders. Is Trick Trick wack? No. However, this is what happens when you rhyme up against those that are microphone masters.

With or without the worldwide recognition, Trick Trick is one of Detroit’s legends. This mixtape, although not for everyone, is a testament to this. The best thing he did for himself was making sure the music was of listenable quality. Yet, his type of artistry is not everyone’s cup of tea. Regardless, Trick Trick is a legend in two games that has earned the respect of many.