The album was preceded by the release of its lead single "Gotta Make It" which reached the top 30 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"[7] Margeaux Watson from Entertainment Weekly described the album as "a sexy collection of eleven slow jams and thumping grooves that pay homage to Motown's golden era.

The disc not only bridges the stylistic gap between Marvin Gaye and R. Kelly, it warmly introduces hip-hop soul's finest new voice.

"[2] HipHopDX called the album "a unique blend of R&B soul and funk with a mix of Trey Songz' spicy creativity and originality; A combination of hot production, smooth flowing vocals, and strong lyrics makes this a tight album [...] I Gotta Make It is a CD that eschews a breath of fresh air.

"[1] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said found that "while Songz is hopefully shaking off his obvious indebtedness to [R.] Kelly here, I Gotta Make It is both very enjoyable and full of promise, carrying a fine balance between throwback and modern hip-hop soul.

"[9] Will Lavin, writing for Gigwise, felt that Songz' vocal performance on I Gotta Make It "showcases the rise of an artist destined for big things.