The song was produced by Groove and Monte Booker, and serves as the lead single from Smino's third studio album, Luv 4 Rent.

[1] "90 Proof" was originally planned to be on J. Cole's album The Fall Off, but Smino later asked for the song back.

When I was wrapping up the tracklist, though, I just felt like something was missing, and I put "90 Proof" right after my intro and it just sounded like they were meant for each other.

"[2] The song features a "melodic, guitar-laced beat", in which Smino raps in his trademark "fast, expressive helium-cackle".

It was directed by Phillip Youmans, and is described as a "neo-soul hip-hop southern gothic thrill ride".