[7] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "Compared to the impressive and occasionally brilliant Venice, this album's mix of high and hard times has deeper resonance".

[9] Alejandra Ramirez of The Austin Chronicle said, "There's effortless, unhurried groove as he slides from the disarming grit of Nineties hip-hop in "Without You" to Sixties soul on "The Bird" and honey-dripped R&B with "Am I Wrong"".

[10] Michael Madden of Consequence said, "For its lyrical and musical scope, Malibu brings to mind a number of excellent albums, ranging from Stevie Wonder's Innervisions to, yes, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly".

said, "A rose from concrete, Malibu offers a sense of wonder that's carefully rooted in funk and soul, and presents a complete vision from a blossoming new artist that's not only fearless, but leading something of a sonic revolution".

[15] Pitchfork's Marcus J. Moore awarded the album with a Best New Music rating, drawing comparisons between Paak and Kendrick Lamar, writing that "much like Kendrick Lamar, .Paak skillfully depicts his surroundings while remaining in the foreground" and that ".Paak's quicksilver flow on "Your Prime" feels teleported in directly from To Pimp a Butterfly as the music flows expansively from creamy soul harmonies to trap cadences".

[14] Sheldon Pearce of Spin said, "The tonal palette is warm and lush, with a transporting quality that's twofold, sending the listener both to the artist's western locale and back in time".

[17] The Wall Street Journal calls it an improvement on his previous album Venice, stating "on the new disc, Paak combines his varied interests into something familiar yet distinctive, bringing old-school R&B into the moment with his voice..."[22] Christopher M. Weingarten of Rolling Stone said, "The music isn't always as dynamic as his thoughts, opting for a mostly mellow mood that matches the LP's carefree samples of surfing documentaries, but doesn't always capture their freewheeling individuality".