Released to a positive reception from music critics, who hailed the album's upbeat sound, Brass Construction II reached number 26 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and was certified Gold for selling 500,000 copies in the United States.

Funk/disco group Brass Construction, led by vocalist/instrumentalist Randy Muller, achieved Platinum success with their self-titled 1975 album, while the songs "Movin'" and "Changin'" became popular in nightclubs.

Muller explained that while the material was "ready ahead of time," the group's busy schedule meant they had to wait until September 1976 to record it.

[7] Similarly to their first album, it features a funk-oriented disco sound with prominent horns,[7] driving rhythms and hand-clapping, with songs retaining their upbeat nature by avoiding quiet moments,[8] but it departs from the group's earlier record by adopting more musical styles, including the rhythms of Latin and Afro-Cuban music, and incorporating some mellow songs.

[9] The group sought a "multi-dimensional" approach, fusing disparate musical styles throughout the record, with Muller writing each song with a specific meaning and message.

[2] While the lyrics of the first Brass Construction album centred on the repetition of simple words, leaving audiences to interpret the songs as they wished, Brass Construction II features more lyrical work; Muller felt the album "gets closer to what we want to say" and said: "I tend to write in a simple way so that we can get over to the maximum number of people with our work.

"[2] While Muller conceded that "Screwed" carries a sexual connotation, he said the song itself regards "the way we get disappointed and messed around with," citing "when we elect a government that says they'll do one thing and turn around and do something else.

"[2] Featuring themes of social awareness,[6] "The Message" was compared by writer Davitt Sigerson to Earth, Wind & Fire's "Reasons", and highlights an archaic piano part from Muller with Joseph Arthur Wong's varied guitar licks.

[9] "Now Is Tomorrow" warns of procrastination and urges listeners to avoid it,[2] and features a pulsating rhythm played with a Fender Rhodes organ, interplaying guitars and flute, and plucked strings.

"[14] The two albums also have similar covers,[14][15] depicting the groups in custom-tailored "funk wear", with each member in leather outfits of different colours adorned with appliqués.

"[16] To celebrate Brass Construction's success, a party was held at the St. Moritz nightclub in New York City in January 1977; boxer and singer Joe Frazier, wearing a shimmering robe, sang at the event.

"[14] Davitt Sigerson of Black Music considered Brass Construction II superior to their previous album, and while feeling the group would benefit from "a more consistent vocal personality," he praised the "bass-guitar keyboard triumvirate" as "the equal of any band around" and hailed Wong's rhythm guitar work for being as compulsive as that of fellow funk guitarists Claydes Smith and Bobby Eli.

"[7] In their books on funk music, Rickey Vincent praised the album for being "even more surprisingly diverse and original" than the first Brass Construction record,[21] while Dave Thompson praised "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)", which he called a "delirious" funk chant reminiscent of "Movin'", but believed that elsewhere, Brass Construction II "sags like the morning after a really great party, which, in a way, it was."