The song contains lyrics about a lover’s departure and internal conflict, while Lamar's verse coaches Brown through his emotional challenges.
The singer told Rolling Stone that the evocative guitar spirals and passionate vocals driving “Autumn Leaves” turned it into “a real emo record”.
[2] "Autumn Leaves" is a "quiet" soul ballad, that features an "aggressive, emotional" rap verse by Kendrick Lamar.
[9] Miranda J. of XXL gave a positive review saying that "the chemistry between the two on the track is undeniable", calling Lamar's part "the best rap verse on the album".
[11] In the video Brown appears dressed as a samurai, crossing paths with his beloved, played by the singer's ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran.