Toss has opened up about the deeply personal inspiration behind “Toxic,” a track from his recent joint EP with South African rapper Nadia Nakai. The song has caught the attention of listeners for its conversational approach, with the two artists appearing to address relationship experiences through a back-and-forth dialogue.
The collaboration between Toss and Nadia Nakai has also generated interest among fans following their growing public connection and the release of their joint project. While the pair have kept listeners engaged with their music, “Toxic” stands out for the personal emotions woven into its lyrics and delivery.
During a recent interview with Hip Hop SA, Toss was asked about the meaning behind “Toxic” and why the song sounds almost like an actual conversation between two people.
According to Toss, the artists deliberately decided to draw from their real-life experiences when creating the record. Rather than simply creating a fictional relationship story, they wanted the song to reflect things they had personally experienced.
“When we did it, we actually have a conversation that we have to tap in to our real lives, like what we actually lived and happened in reality,” Toss explained.
He went on to reveal that the subject matter was particularly personal for him, saying that Nadia’s responses during the recording made the emotions feel even more authentic.
“Toxic is actually what I’ve experienced and the way she was speaking back at me it was like ‘oh damn’ it feels real. You can even hear by my tone, like it triggered a lot of emotions and everything,” he said.
For Toss, the emotional reaction captured in the song is part of what makes the record feel like a movie. Rather than simply delivering lines over a beat, the artists created a dialogue that reflects the complexity of relationships and the experiences that can come with them.
“As you said it’s a movie and it’s something that people can relate to, something that somebody has went through and it’s something that we both went through,” he added.
The explanation gives listeners a deeper understanding of “Toxic” and why the song carries such an emotional tone. Toss and Nadia Nakai use their different musical backgrounds to tell a story centred around experiences from past relationships.
The song ultimately becomes a reflection of situations that many listeners may recognise from their own lives. By drawing from personal experiences, Toss and Nadia have created a record that feels conversational, vulnerable and relatable.
As their joint EP continues to gain attention, “Toxic” offers one of its most revealing moments, showing how personal experiences can be transformed into music that connects with listeners.
