To1Swerve brings a lot of heat in “Basement”, the first single off of his forthcoming tape ‘Shooting Star’. The track doesn’t shy away from showing who it is or what it wants to be. The beat incorporates trap instrumentation with dancehall bounce and To1Swerve raps with such a strong Trinidadian accent, it slices through the track like a hot knife through butter. When you first press play, the addictive rhythm pulls you in—but it’s the sound and cadence of To1Swerve’s voice that ensnares you. Each bar has a snarl to it, a quiet yet gritty confidence in his delivery, made stronger by production that’s both hard as concrete and dynamic.
“Basement” stands out because To1Swerve takes up space and grounds himself in who he is and where he’s come from. He isn’t trying to hide behind effects or lean into any trends or motifs. He leans into the Caribbean influence in the production, providing sharp lines with the UK bite that he grew up on. The tone is blunted but never apologetic. The way he speaks suggests a man who has experienced and lived in the struggle without being stuck in it. The bars reflect that hunger. Hunger for success, for love, for notoriety, for change, for growth. He has the defiance of a man who has been through too much but also a contemplation in his verses. He’s not screaming in the mic to be loud—this is a man talking about what it’s like and how it felt when you claw your way from basements to bigger rooms. He makes you believe.
“Basement” is more than a single: it feels like the first brick of a bigger edifice. It is a strong foundation for what ‘Shooting Star’ is sure to sound like and what it will explore. It’s about building a house that stands strong, something that has its foundation on where you come from, but that has its sights set on where you want to go. To1Swerve doesn’t just make music; he makes a point. And “Basement” is just that—loud, directed, and fiery. If you enjoy music that comes with weight and voice behind it, hit play and don’t look back.
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