The song was released on 24 October 2014 as the lead single from the reissue of Azalea's debut studio album The New Classic (2014), titled Reclassified (2014).

[2][5] However, in Azalea's announcement of the song's single release on Twitter on 10 October 2014, it was revealed that Danish singer MØ was the track's featured vocalist instead.

[3] In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Azalea said she wanted to assist a rising star with a guest feature on her album, and "fell in love" with MØ after discovering the singer on YouTube.

[9] "Beg for It" was released as digital download "instant grat" in the United States at 00:00 EST (15:00 UTC) on 24 October 2014, with the pre-order of Reclassified on the iTunes Store.

[23] The song's instrumentation comprises an impish,[24] echoed synthesizer, hollowed-out bass,[25] and drums and keyboards played by members of The Invisible Men and The Arcade.

[32] Complimenting the track's jocose sample, MØ's "distinct" vocal and Azalea's rapping, Amy Davidson of Digital Spy said the single was "doing nothing to disprove that Iggy is anything but at the top of her game right now".

Wass also gave praise to Azalea's flow in her lyrics and predicted that with an accompanying music video, "Beg for It" would become the rapper's fourth top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

[35] Patrick Ryan of USA Today commended the track for containing the staples of "Fancy" and "Black Widow", and highlighted its "arresting" verses, "hypnotic" beat and "memorable" hook.

[36] Similarly, PopSugar's Nick Maslow complimented "Beg for It" for following the formula set by its two predecessors, Azalea's "memorable" verses and MØ's "earworm-worthy" hook.

[6] In a mixed review, Billboard columnist Jason Lipshutz awarded "Beg for It" two-and-a-half out of five stars, criticising Azalea's use of half-baked similies and following the formula of "Fancy", but viewed the song as MØ's "best bid for U.S.

[37] Music Times writer Carolyn Menyes said that what made "Beg for It" most remarkable was the manifestation that its hook was written by "Fancy" collaborator XCX, and dismissed its lyrics and rhymes.

However, Menyes called MØ "the true standout" on the track and said that it would assist the singer with her breakthrough into mainstream success in the United States.

[28] Allan Raible of ABC News viewed the song as a "redo" of "Fancy" and felt Azalea lacked an "impressive flow".

[38] In a negative review, Jim Farber of the Daily News called "Beg for It" a "rote recycle" of "Fancy", and commented, "It sounds like it was thrown together as quickly as possible, a nervous sop to her ravenous fan base".

[53] "Beg for It" peaked at number 29 on the Australian Singles Chart issued for 23 November 2014, marking Azalea's sixth top 40 hit in Australia.

[55] "Beg for It" was less successful in the United Kingdom, where it did not receive a radio release, peaking at number 111 on the UK Singles Chart issued for 6 December 2014.

[64] Entertainment Tonight deemed it "one of the most cringe-worthy live moments in recent history," and highlighted that it was MØ's "nervous dancing and offbeat singing" that garnered the worst of the criticism.

[65] Jezebel's Julianne Escobedo Sheppard commented that Azalea fell victim to the "Saturday Night Live curse" with the performance which she felt "wasn't doing any favours" for the rapper's reputation.

[69] Hilary Hughes of The Village Voice commented that MØ "stumbled upon her lines with the grace of a drunk person in a church" and felt the performance's execution was "abysmal".

According to Next Big Sound, the performance generated 170,000 new fans for the rapper across Twitter and Facebook, and resulted in a 73% rise in Azalea's weekly reactions on Instagram, where she posted scenes from the broadcast.

[70] Azalea responded by resonating that she chose to collaborate with MØ because she was "amazing" and said that the singer's talent would be showcased to her critics in a performance of "Beg for It" at the 2014 American Music Awards.

[76]At the 2014 American Music Awards on 23 November 2014, Azalea performed the track in a medley with "Fancy" while dancing affront a futuristic jungle gym that was being climbed by several of her backing singers and dancers.

[78] While Joe Lynch of Billboard cited it as a microphone problem on Azalea's part in his review of the rendition which he described as "great showmanship, so-so execution,"[79] adding, "maybe the song is cursed?

", Lipshutz wrote that MØ's absence "wasn't groundbreaking news" and that a rep for the singer did not immediately respond to request for comments.

[75] Rolling Stone said the performance evoked the music videos of Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" and Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" (1989).

[81] Dressed in pink trousers and a printed blazer, Azalea reprised "Beg for It" in a rendition with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 26 November 2014.

[84] While Music Times writer Shawn Christ said The Roots elevated the rapper's rendition to "new heights," and deemed it "a pretty steamy performance, at least for NBC's standards".

[86] Katie Atkinson of Billboard wrote that Azalea "looked every bit the champion" and "stood out from the pack," during the performance which she felt was "confident," and "a whole new take" in comparison with previous renditions of "Beg for It".

[86] On 20 October 2014, Azalea announced on Twitter that David LaChapelle would be directing the music video for "Beg for It", and wrote, "I'm so excited I've looked to him as an inspiration for so long, def worth the wait".

On 23 December 2014, Azalea announced on Twitter that the clip had been scrapped due to poor timing and her conflicting KIIS-FM Jingle Ball schedule, stating that she "missed the window".