TRIP HOP PLAYLIST: STEP INTO THE SHADOWS
Louis Lambert
This Spotify playlist invites you on a journey through the moody soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms of Trip Hop. Emerging from the underground scenes of Bristol in the ’90s, the genre fuses Hip Hop, Dub, Soul, and Electro, along with countless other influences. It creates a rich, experimental blend that’s perfect for introspection, late-night drives, or slipping into your creative flow.
A movement strongly linked to its hometown
The history of trip hop is deeply tied to its hometown. Going back to the 18th century, Bristol stood as one of England’s most important cities. This was largely due to its thriving port. It quickly became the country’s largest hub for the transatlantic slave trade, trafficking people from Africa, the Antilles, and India.
From this dark legacy, Bristol grew into a deeply cosmopolitan city. Generations of immigrants fought to preserve their cultures and traditions, shaping a vibrant cultural mix. This fusion still defines the city today, and it’s especially evident in its music scene during the St Pauls Carnival. In this Caribbean-rooted district, bands, crews, sound systems, and artist collectives fill the streets with music. This music then spills into the night in clubs, where sound systems battle deep into the early hours.
The Dugout, located between St Pauls and Clifton, became the most important club in trip hop’s early history. It was situated in what was then considered the punk neighborhood. The club was a melting pot of sound and culture. DJs and MCs blended Afro-Caribbean heritage with punk energy and fresh influences from the US. Therefore, trip hop began to take shape here, influenced by hip hop and house.
The Wild Bunch, the origin of Trip Hop
If you were partying in the Dugout in the late 80s, you’d probably have heard The Wild Bunch. This sound system is the perfect example of Bristol’s youth, where everyone comes with different music inspirations such as Reggae, Soul, Hip Hop, House, Post Punk, and Electro. But they’re all in love with music, a place of freedom where experimentation is key. Led by an anti-system spirit, they rejected commercial trends to create a raw sound. This community-rooted sound system culture would lay the groundwork for Bristol’s musical revolution. The Wild Bunch started to gain recognition in the UK. They usually mixed in London clubs and were influenced by Acid Jazz. They met Neneh Cherry, who liked their style and supported them to progress to the next step.
Unfortunately, the group crashed in 1989. However, DJ Grant Marshall, founder of the sound system and reggae lover, continued to create sound with 3d, an MC with hip hop and house influence, and Mushroom with Soul and Funk interests. Pushed by Neneh Cherry, they created their new band Massive Attack. They wanted to merge all their music influences, without limiting themselves to genre frontiers. Consequently, this resulted in their first album, Blue Line, the first Trip Hop album.
The playlist
On the playlist, you’ll find the classic trip hop bands. Massive Attack, of course, but also Portishead. Another pillar of the genre is Tricky, a former member and MC of The Wild Bunch, who plays a significant role here as well. Nellee Hooper, another ex-member of the iconic sound system, also carried the trip hop torch—this time as a producer. He helped shape the sound of several artists, notably guiding Björk on her debut solo album Debut.
You’ll also hear tracks from the influential Mo’Wax label, which acted as an accelerator for the trip hop movement. Its founder, James Lavelle, created the collective UNKLE. The project truly took off with the arrival of DJ Shadow. He was the American producer who had already brought trip hop to the US in 1994 with his In/Flux EPs, released on Mo’Wax. His joining UNKLE led to the release of their first album Psyence Fiction. It featured standout collaborations, including one with Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
Now you’re ready to dive into what you’re about to hear. Explore this hybrid music, born of a multiracial youth that rejected boxes, labels, and borders. It’s a free, elusive sound that defies genres as much as it defies norms. It’s music that tells the story of the rich cultural roots that raised it…
Don’t hesitate to check out our other playlists for more music culture: RETRO GROOVE ENSEMBLE: IRK PLAYLIST #2
Louis Lambert is a young french fashion photographer.
Lambert spent a year in New York where he learned about another culture and developed his photographic eye on the street by following in the footsteps of his peers.
Now in his home city, Paris, he is working with IRK as a photo journalist.
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