Trouble Man is the original soundtrack for the 1972 film of the same name, starring Robert Hooks. Marvin Gaye composed, arranged, and produced the album, marking his first work as sole producer of a complete project.
The album was recorded at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studios in Detroit and at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles. Unlike Gaye's previous vocal works, Trouble Man is predominantly instrumental, featuring only two songs with lyrics: the hit 'Trouble Man' and 'Don't Mess with Mr. T'.
Commercially, the album reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 3 on the R&B albums chart. The title track became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and is considered one of Gaye's most influential works in the funk genre.