Besides frequent contributor and personal friend Pitbull, the album also features collaborations with French Montana, T.I., Iggy Azalea, Rick Ross, Nas, Jack Mizrahi and Tyga.

"[11] That December, Lopez confirmed that she was about to begin recording her eighth studio album after her Dance Again World Tour ended.

[12] The following month, Lopez told USA Today that her primary focus was films, however, she was slowly putting together her album, stating: "I'm never not working on music".

[13] During an interview with People, she revealed that she had written a song entitled "We Loved" about her break-up with husband Marc Anthony, that caused her to cry while recording.

[10] In late February 2013, Lopez began working with American rapper Future, who was confirmed to be featured and have production credits on the album.

[21] Lopez commented that her collaboration with Brown would evoke the "flavor" of her signature hit "Jenny from the Block", and they would be "sonically time-traveling back to 2002 for this release".

"[34][35] Later in January, Lopez stated that the album was being finalized,[36] and on April 28, the studio records were handed over for mastering, two days later than anticipated by the label.

[42] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian pointed out that "Lopez has moved on from the generic party bangers of her 2011 LP, Love?, veer[ing] from power balladry to squawking hip-hop to an EDM track.

[43] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine agreed, writing that Lopez has switched hats, "this time from disco diva back to urban songstress.

"[44] Jim Farber of New York Daily News noted that "There's a bit of dubstep (the title track), Latin pop, hip-hop ("Acting Like That"), R&B ("Worry No More") and even several ill-advised ballads.

[42] The song features Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who raps about "everything from Mary J. Blige to Lopez's 2001 hit 'Ain't It Funny'".

[37] The ninth track "Worry No More" features Rick Ross and was produced by Detail, being considered "the album's hardest hip-hop anthem".

[2] The "reverb-filled" down-tempo track has intelligible background whispers creeping in and out and vocal effects, adding a robotic element to it.

[54] On March 5, 2014, Lopez premiered the track "I Luh Ya Papi" featuring French Montana as the album's first single.

[41] The song received positive reception from music critics, who despite calling the title "ridiculous",[44] praised the track for being a fun, summer-anthem,[55] also commending the hook and the "catchy" chorus.

The song received positive reception from most critics, who praised its nostalgic feeling,[42] calling it an enjoyable candy pop track.

[2][45] Its black-and-white music video, directed by Anthony Mandler, was released on May 29, 2014, and features British model David Gandy with Lopez in sexy scenes in the Mojave Desert.

[65] Lopez performed the album's lead single "I Luh Ya Papi" live on the March 20, 2014 episode of American Idol, on which she was part of the judging panel.

The performance opened with an a cappella introduction that featured Lopez singing with former contestants of the show, Jessica Sanchez, Allison Iraheta and Pia Toscano.

[70] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album a lukewarm review, commenting how the production is "burying her in their thrum.

"[71] Writing for The Boston Globe, Sarah Rodman gave the record a mixed review, stating that the "opening handful of songs have a satisfying boom bap and hooks aplenty", but criticized the ballads.

[74] At The Observer, Phil Mongredien had a mixed impression of the material because it contains "forgettable EDM-by-numbers floor-fillers jostling with marginally more inspired ballads.

"[3] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly wrote a scathingly negative review in remarking how Lopez is "working with hitmakers like Max Martin and Chris Brown, they just whip their synth-pop into a weightless foam that would disintegrate if you blew it a kiss", whilst also criticizing the lyricism as "lazy".

[72] At The Guardian, Kitty Empire gave a mixed impression review of the album in pronouncing the only problem is that "There are so many production cooks (and the ubiquitous Pitbull) that the broth is a bit characterless at times.

"[43] At Spin, Anupa Mistry's review was mixed, writing how Lopez issued another rote release deficient in any innovative aspects to make it appealing, which leaves the music feeling "simultaneously calculated and sloppy.

"[49] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News was negative, stating that the album "finds J.Lo throwing anything she can at the wall to see what sticks.

[55] In a more favorable review, Amaya Mendizabal of Billboard remarked that album contains "hits and misses", whilst it "journeys through some predictable refrains with a handful of prospective triumphs.

"[42] Martin Caballero of USA Today called it an "eclectic album," yet suggests that the "results are mixed, with polished production obscuring some uneven songwriting.

[81] The album's recording failure in terms of sales was considered by numerous websites and media outlets to be one of the biggest flops in Jennifer Lopez's career.

[82][83][84] Regarding the lackluster sales of A.K.A, Jason Lipshutz of Billboard commented on the fact that the album proved that Lopez was "trapped in a different era."