The song was written by Ciara, along with its two producers Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Kenneth "Soundz" Coby for her fourth studio album, Basic Instinct (2010).

"Gimmie Dat" is an uptempo dance song, featuring speedy, kinetic beats and a sensual-breathy tone.

In May 2010, on the red carpet for Maxim's annual Hot 100 celebration, Ciara gave hints to Rap-Up about her next single from Basic Instinct, commenting, "Get ready to dance off the freaking roof.

[2] In August 2010, it was officially announced that "Gimme Dat" will serve as Basic Instinct's dual second single, alongside "Speechless".

[4] Produced by Soundz, the Urban Bass Remix removes some of the electro-rhythm of the original version and replaces them with synths.

"...I even tried to get 'Gimmie Dat' started I spent tens of thousands of my own money only to hear the radio pds tell me my label didn't want the song played.

The song has been described as a "fast-paced burner" recalling Ciara's hip hop-flavored dance music as in "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step".

[9] Becky Bain of Idolator called the song "fantastic", stating that "Gimmie That", "has a great beat, isn't filled to the brim with Auto-Tune like most dance tracks circulating today, and makes us want to go clubbing immediately.

[9] Ryan Brockington of the New York Post said, "start stretchin', because it looks like the latter part of summer should be full of reason's to give people 'dat.'

"[10] Calling the song an "absolute destroyer", Tamar Antai of MTV Buzzworthy stated, "It's by far the sickest jam of the summer so (no offense, Usher's "OMG"), and an all-out sexy assault on your mind in the same kinda way that Missy Elliott's "Work It" dropped bombs on your brain."

"[16] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the song was one of the Basic Instinct tracks that "mingles music with lust as programmed drums and keyboards pound and blip.

"[17] Randall Roberts of The Los Angeles Times criticized the song's lyrical content, commenting that it "makes the Black Eyed Peas seem positively Shakespearean.

[23] The video begins with Ciara arriving to an abandoned warehouse in a Lamborghini, where she then gets out of the vehicle and pops off the front hood, showing speakers as the song beings to play.