It was released on April 29, 2013, as the third and final single from her second album Warrior (2012), with will.i.am or Juicy J as the featured artist depending on the version.

A music video for the track premiered on MTV on May 28, 2013, followed by the finale of her television documentary, Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life.

Club writer Annie Zaleski said: "On the acoustic guitar-driven choruses, she's sweet and melancholy as she reveals her insanity; on the electronic-dipped verses, she unloads snappy hip-hop boasts ("I'm no virgin or no Virgo / I'm crazy that's my word, though") to assert herself.

"[9][12] Over hip hop dub beats, Kesha raps "coochie" with "Gucci", drops several f-bombs, and contributes her famous sing-rap style vocals in addition to traditional singing.

[16] Darwin also commented on Kesha's grill, comparing it to similar attire worn by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

The Huffington Post stated that: "in addition to sporting pastel cornrows, [Kesha] wore an outfit that could only be described as ...interesting... her light ink corset under a plaid shirt, [along with] denim hot [daisy dukes] paired with white thigh-high stockings evokes a Christina Aguilera in her 'Your Body'" video, meets James Franco in 'Spring Breakers' vibe".

[14] MTV called Kesha's look "eye-popping couture", suggesting the sunglasses as being inspired by Elton John and the braids by fellow rappers Riff Raff[20] and Brooke Candy.

[21] New York magazine' music blog, Vulture, documented a high volume of occult symbolism, specifically that which is conventionally associated with modern perceptions of the Bavarian Illuminati.

[22] Amanda Dobbins, the reviewer, toyed with the possibility of Kesha being a whistleblower for the cult, displaying the symbols such as the all-seeing eye tattooed on the rapper's palm, both overtly and excessively in the "Crazy Kids" video.

[27] Paper blogger Abby Schreiber said: "Never one for subtlety, Ke$ha rocks...an Illuminati tattoo on her hand...."[28] During their critique of Warrior, Billboard said 'Crazy Kids' displayed Kesha at "her most take-it-or-leave it" and called the beats "grimy".

Spin's Mark Hogan said will.i.am's verse delivers "cheap crassness," but praised Kesha's solo version, stating that her "charisma is enough for you to keep from flipping the dial.

"[29] Hogan also added that while "Crazy Kids" was inferior to will's Britney Spears' collaboration, "Scream & Shout", the song was destined for mainstream top 40 success.

"Crazy Kids" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 59, and rose to a peak of 40, becoming her consecutive second solo single not to reach the top ten.