Written alongside producers The Cataracs, the song was released on November 16, 2010 through Universal Motown as the lead single from Dev's debut studio album, The Night the Sun Came Up (2011).

British rapper Tinie Tempah was featured on an official remix of "Bass Down Low" that was made for the song's release in the United Kingdom.

[1][2] Production duo The Cataracs, consisting of Niles Hollowell-Dhar and David Singer-Vine, came across the songs and asked Dev to come to Berkeley, California to produce music with them.

[3] In 2009, Dev signed with Indie-Pop Records and moved to a loft in Los Angeles, California to begin working on her debut album.

[7] In August 2010, Dev issued a viral music video for "Booty Bounce" and subsequently signed a record deal with Universal Republic two months later.

[10] In an interview with teen magazine Seventeen, she spoke of the song's conception, stating: "We'd been in the studio writing some really bossy, fun stuff.

"[11] "Bass Down Low" was sent for rhythmic airplay in the United States on November 16, 2010,[12] one month after Dev signed her record deal with Universal Republic.

[16] In an interview with Digital Spy in July 2011, Dev spoke about collaborating with Tempah, stating, "We actually did the duet over the internet as we're both really busy and it was through the management that I was introduced to him, but he buffed up my track pretty good!

[19][21] In the song's hook, she sing-talks in a "deadpan" delivery while remarking that "If you wanna get with me, there's some things you gotta know / I like my beats fast and my bass down low.

"[19][20] According to Scott Shetler of AOL Radio, Dev entices listeners with lines such as, "Straight buzzin' Robotussin / Wanna get ya mitts in my oven?

[21] Slomowicz wrote, "Dev proves she's got the cahones to challenge anyone on the scene with vulgar and seductive lyrics and a crazy hot beat provided by The Cataracs... With any justice, this track will dominate in 2011.

"[21] While reviewing The Night the Sun Came Up, Jamie Horne of The Border Mail said that "Bass Down Low" and "In My Trunk" are "certainly Black Eyed Peas-esque but Dev... is no clone.

[28] In Canada, "Bass Down Low" debuted at number 49 on the Canadian Hot 100 on the issue dated January 1, 2011 and was the week's highest new entry.

[32] The music video for "Bass Down Low" was directed by Ethan Lader and shot in a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, California.

[8] The inspiration behind the "Bass Down Low" clip was "Fight Club meets high fashion", with Lader describing the approach as "sexiness, but it's effortless".