Lyrically, the songs on Cannibal speak of ignoring judgement or hate and experiences based on love and heartbreak.

In the United States, the EP reached a peak of fifteen on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 74,000 copies in its first week of release.

Cannibal was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of 2 million copies in the United States.

The song reached top ten positions in multiple countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

In January 2020, the title track "Cannibal" enjoyed a resurgence in popularity due to its use on social media site TikTok.

[4][5] During an interview with Billboard conducted by Chris Willman, one of the potential songs for the album was used as an example of how Luke and Kesha collaborated to create a song for this record: "There's an unfinished chorus on this new track, in which Gottwald is singing through such distorted Auto-Tune, it's impossible to tell what he's saying-which is deliberate, so he won't unduly influence Ke$ha when she comes up with her own lyrics.

[9] She raps over a thundering bass line and ticking beat backing, while the song speaks of wealthy men hitting on Kesha, trying to buy her attention.

With the release, Kesha stated that she hoped that the song would become an anthem for "weirdos", and said, "Every weird thing about you is beautiful and makes life interesting.

[26][27] In Canada, the song entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart on the issue date entitled November 20, 2010 at forty-six.

[29] On the week of December 31, 2011, "Sleazy" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 following the release of its official remix featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, T.I.

[31][32] In Canada, "Cannibal" entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart on the issue date entitled November 27, 2010 at sixty-two.

[34] On the back of going viral on social network, TikTok, "Cannibal" re-entered the Canadian Hot 100 and climbed to a peak of 31 on the March 28, 2020 edition of the chart.

[35][36] The new found viral success also prompted Kesha to release a new lyric video for the song and her own dance collaboration with TikTok personality Charli D'Amelio.

She's all ravenous id, spitting at strangers and backstabbing friends, humiliating hotties, and laughing at the wreckage in her wake.

Grischow was critical of the production of the album and overuse of Auto-Tune writing that there was "so much overdubbing and autotune used that most of the songs may as well be sung by a spunky robot".

He also noted that when Kesha's vocals were stripped down she could actually sing, highlighting the ballads "The Harold Song" and "C U Next Tuesday" in the album's review.

[8] Grischow ended his review writing, "Cannibal proves to be too mired in mindless lyrics and excessive vocal effects to have any lasting appeal.

A complaint on the review was that the album was too similar to Animal, noting that she failed to "branch out in any significant way" and the overuse of processed vocals.

[47] Cinquemani ended the review praising the "Animal (Billboard Remix)" for its "promise of something deeper, something beyond Dr. Luke's latest recycled formula.

"[47] Gary Graff from Billboard wrote "Kesha sinks her teeth into some fresh flavors on Cannibal, which will certainly enhance her 'Animal' attraction.

"[10] Spin magazine's Barry Walters reviewed Cannibal with a mixed outcome giving the album five out of a possible ten stars.

[48] Walters criticized the album as a whole stating that it was full of contradictions, noting that on "We R Who We R" "she sends out pride vibes to bullied gays", while on "Grow a Pear", "she emasculates a potential boyfriend."

Kesha's mother, Pebe Sebert, was also targeted in the review criticizing her for helping write the album's title track, "Cannibal" which was called "disturbing" and "sad".

[53] The album received a double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of 2,000,000 units.