Written by Gregory "Nyce Boy" Christopher, Makeba Riddick, Fat Joe (who is also the featured artist), Cory Rooney, Gregory Bruno and produced by Christopher, Bruno and Rooney, "Hold You Down" hit number 6 on the United Kingdom's singles chart, and was a Top 40 hit in many other countries.

"Hold You Down" samples Shirley Murdock's 1986 song "As We Lay" which was written by Larry Troutman of the funk band Zapp, and keyboardist Billy Beck of Ohio Players.

The song is the third collaboration between Lopez and Joe, after "Feelin' So Good" (1999) with Big Pun, and "Love Don't Cost a Thing (RJ Schoolyard Mix)" (2002).

"[6] "Hold You Down" consists of a flat beat and "some tinkling" chimes in the background, which according to Sam Shepherd from musicOMH, "wouldn't be out of place on a Christmas single.

musicOMH's Sam Shepherd wrote, "The lyrics are sweet but not sickly so, and Fat Joe's appearance doesn't sound like he's co-opted the track - instead he allows Lopez's voice room to breathe; and who would have guessed it, she may have an asset that is more impressive than her booty.

[1] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly commented that "even with Fat Joe pitching in, the song is as colorless as Lopez's voice.