Built around drum machine-backed rhythms and a saxophone-laced beat, the mid-tempo R&B ballad was released as the album's second single on August 3, 1995, with "Like This and Like That" serving as its other half on a double A-side stateside.

[1] "Before You Walk Out of My Life," alongside previous single "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," made the singer the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on Billboard's R&B chart at the age of fourteen.

[4] In a 2020 interview, Schack commented on the sound of the song: "[Davis] was testing us [...] We were really dirty on the beats like on “Before You Walk Out Of My Life” by Monica and then Karlin would play really poppy type of chords.

"[4] A mid-tempo R&B ballad with drum machine-backed rhythms and a saxophone-laced beat,[4] the song was recorded by Jay Lean, Brian Smith, and Schack at the Pure Studio and the D.A.R.P.

[5] Music Week rated the song four out of five, adding, "This 15 year old from the Whitney and Brandy school of crooning turns in an ultra-smooth, ultra appealing R&B ballad which has been top three in the US.

He described the song as "a mid to low tempo smoocher with an acappella-ish intro and a lazy beat", and concluded, "A grower and definitely another hit waiting to happen for Monica.

"[9] In a retrospective review of the song, Singersroom editor Erica Henderson felt that "the track features a heartfelt vocal performance from Monica, as she pleads with her lover not to leave her.

The song's catchy melody and relatable lyrics made it an instant hit, with its memorable chorus and powerful vocals [...] "Before You Walk Out of My Life" continues to be a standout moment in Monica's discography.

"[11] Park Jin-young called the "perfectly written" and further noted: "It was my ultimate role model as songwriting: a song with a strong beat that was good enough as a ballad.

[14] "Before You Walk Out of My Life," alongside previous single "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (1995), made Monica the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits on Billboard's R&B chart at the age of fourteen.

[24] For shipments figures in excess of 1.0 million units, it was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 19, 1996.