Dynamic duo TRICKSTAR—the brainchild of bass music heavyweights Ookay and Bailo—continue their mission of pushing modern trap into uncharted territory with their new ‘LAUGHING STOCK’ EP, out on Insomniac’s BREAK ROOM Records. Arriving on the back of its lead single “SWITCH” last month, this follow-up offering is a masterclass in genre-blending intensity, taking the figure of a four-track jaunt through mind-blowing festival fun.
Equipped with three new exclusive tracks, TRICKSTAR’s debut body of work does not leave any room for ridicule. From the moment, “TRUGANGSTA” kicks in, the production pair commands the space with the help of Italian low-end menace, Eater—notorious for his cutting-edge sound design that has earned him praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1. Together, they weave with hypnotic melodies that nod to classic G-funk influences, seamlessly colliding with distorted, hydraulic-infused drops designed to shake festival grounds to their core.
“SENTA” slides down beneath the border, stirring the pot with its nod to favela funk. Portuguese vocal chants and spellbinding woodwind melodies float atop crisp breakbeat percussion, eventually exploding into a cacophony of springy and snaking club beats. Things take an unexpected turn during a quick drive-by of thumping techno, only for the mood to sit back down into its hypnotic bombastic bounce.
Putting a pin in the EP, “STACKS” sees TRICKSTAR and LA-based beatsmith Dirty Audio dogpile on the release with a torrential force of epic festival trap. The latter’s longstanding history in the trap scene (with heavy-hitting tunes including “No Stopping” featuring Gold and the now-classic “Gettin’ That” with Rickyxsan) comes into full effect on the collab tip. Nostalgia runs rampant throughout their big finishing move, setting off with twinkling piano keys, regal pads, and tense horn leads that almost feel like its creators are cracking open a time capsule from the genre’s golden era. The sheer power of its machine-gun 808s and bouncing, barking motifs snap things back into the present day; elucidating the fact that trap music is back and it’s better than ever.
TRICKSTAR builds up buzz around their inaugural EP by touching on the thoughtfulness that went into each of its tracks, explaining: “With this being our first EP as a project, we wanted to put our heart and soul into this. We wanted to pay homage to the history of trap, while also paving the way for the future of the genre. We are really excited with how it all turned out and hope you like it too.”
Following their explosive BREAK ROOM debut, “SWITCH,” which landed support from tastemaking press outlets like Gems & Secrets, Fresh Music Freaks, and Beat For Beats, TRICKSTAR are keeping the momentum on full throttle. Their music has already caught the ears of industry giants like Excision, DJ Snake, Tape B, and Boombox Cartel, further cementing their reputation as trap disruptors with a global impact.
Beyond the studio, TRICKSTAR are primed for a massive live takeover, with a mini-tour across Asia, a high-profile support slot for Tape B at the Hollywood Palladium, and headline performances at Warehouse Live in Houston and Cervantes in Denver. Their resume speaks for itself: past collaborations with Marshmello and Lil Jon on “Bad Boys,” “FOCUS” with Rickyxsan, and “MONEY COUNT” alongside Golden Child have showcased their ability to straddle both mainstream and underground circles, all while keeping their sound fresh and unpredictable.
With ‘LAUGHING STOCK,’ TRICKSTAR continues to rewrite the rules of trap music, proving that innovation and nostalgia can thrive side by side. All four tracks featured on their debut EP do right by the genre’s roots, while allowing them to turn the page to welcome in a whole new chapter of what’s possible for trap music as we know it.
TRICKSTAR’s new EP “LAUGHING STOCK” is available on all platforms via BREAK ROOM Recs.