Written and produced by the Neptunes, it was released as the lead single from Tasty in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24, 2003.
"Milkshake" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 2003, becoming Kelis' highest-charting single to date.
[10] Unlike many urban pop songs, which rely on drum machines, the beat consists of a lone darbuka playing a rhythm similar to a belly dance.
About.com's Joey Rivaldo rated the song four out of five stars, and stated: "Clearly this is the case of my milkshake is better than yours, so grab yours quick, or we'll have to charge.
"[8] While reviewing the soundtrack to the film Mean Girls (2004), in which "Milkshake" is featured, Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that the song describes "the movie's playfully menacing undercurrent", and called the song "fantastic", and that it is "basically a three-minute tutorial in sex appeal.
"[13] Rollie Pemberton of Pitchfork called the song "brilliant", and said: "Equal parts cantina gyration and future-funk, Kelis plays the coquette, enticing the entire American male populace with rhythmic coos while simultaneously providing an apt tutorial for aspiring temptresses.
Music UK said that the song "nestles in seamlessly, the rhythm as relentless as a parade of majorettes with Kelis upfront as the cheerleader.
[30] The song charted on the Hot 100 for 22 weeks,[30] and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 25, 2004.
[31] "Milkshake" also spent a week atop the Hot Dance Club Songs chart in December 2003.
[36] In the United Kingdom, "Milkshake" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks, and has been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
A cook, played by rapper Nas, starts delivering milkshakes to the customers while Kelis dances.
The way she sucks a milkshake and bites a cherry is just unfairly sexy", and said that the best part is when Kelis demonstrates a "perfect bending-over-oven technique".
[45] The song has been featured in numerous television series and films including The Simpsons, Family Guy, Jane the Virgin, South Park, The Glee Project, George Lopez, Nip/Tuck, The New Normal, The Haunted Mansion, Mean Girls, Two and a Half Men, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, King's Ransom, The Big Short, Ugly Betty, Date Movie, 2 Broke Girls, Norbit and Identity Thief.
[46] The song was covered by Australian rock band The Pictures in 2005 as part of youth radio station Triple J's Like a Version segment.
The song was also covered by Ashleigh Murray, Asha Bromfield and Madelaine Petsch in the episode "Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks" from the second season of the television series Riverdale.