From Ground Up to Greatness: To1Swerve’s “Basement” Hits Hard and Honest

“Basement” is not only the name of the track, but also seems to be the mantra by which To1Swerve operates. The first single off of the forthcoming ‘Shooting Star’ tape is a no-nonsense introduction from a young artist who does not plan to cater to the status quo. The production features an unforgiving trap beat layered on top of a silky dancehall rhythm, resulting in a bouncing groove both chest and head-rattling. Vocally, To1Swerve accents his lyrics with a distinct Trinidadian twang that rounds out the character of the song. The amalgamation of Caribbean and UK accents is a potent combination, resulting in an almost magnetic pull to the ear.

The facet of this song that resonates most, however, is the tone with which he attacks the microphone. The delivery is not aggressive per se, but there is an almost taciturn firmness in the way he approaches the subject. The confidence with which he projects his plans of meteoric ascent seem to indicate someone who has already survived the proverbial basement and who knows where he is going. The diction on “Basement” may be autobiographical in some ways, but with each chopped-up verse, he is building upwards too. The balance of bawdiness and grit in his vocals, complimented by a skittering yet melodic beat, almost treads a line between wanting and knowing. There is a bit of looking back on this track, but the message of this song is aimed forwards.

“Basement” may be personal, but it is also carefully curated. It is an introduction to To1Swerve that is not flashy, but shiny where it counts. The confidence in the track seems to have been earned, rather than coerced. The name of the song is a fitting summary as well — it is that moment between rags and riches, neither quite hit but also far from where we started. “Basement” does not indicate that To1Swerve will be lingering there for long.

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