The song marks the second time that Usher has collaborated with will.i.am, following the single "What's Your Name", from his previous album Here I Stand (2008).

Usher performed the song live several times including on the ninth season of American Idol with will.i.am.

[4] The song was recorded by will.i.am while performing with The Black Eyed Peas on the French TV show Taratata.

[7] Several lines feature the Auto-Tune vocal effect, and makes use of "hypnotic" hand claps, and Jock Jams-esque arena chanting.

[6] According to James Reed of The Boston Globe, Usher is featured in a staccato delivery over the song's minimalist dance beat.

[6] Mikael Wood of The Los Angeles Times said that the lyrics of the song detail Usher's encounter with a woman in a club.

The song has garnered mixed reception, with most critics disapproving of the auto-tuned vocals, and the production and appearance by will.i.am.

"[13] Andrew Winistorfer of Prefix Magazine preferred "Lil Freak" to be the album's big single, stating that the song "doesn't come close to matching the filthy heights of "Little Freak," [sic] but the sports arena chanting thing hasn't been done this well since the '90s when Jock Jams were enormous.

[8] In 2010, WYOY disc jockeys compared part of Usher's verse to a song sung by Homer Simpson in "Dude, Where's My Ranch?

[27] The song became the third-highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 of Usher's career, behind 1997's "Nice & Slow" at number nine, and 1998's "My Way" at thirteen.

[32] With the song, Usher tied with the Bee Gees, Elton John, and Paul McCartney for ninth among artists all time with the most Hot 100 hits.

[33] Usher also became the third male solo artist, behind McCartney and Michael Jackson to collect at least one number-one single from five consecutive albums.

[34] Usher led first on the chart with "You Make Me Wanna" for thirteen weeks from 1997 to 1998 and "Love in This Club" featuring Young Jeezy in 2008.

[37] Internationally, "OMG" charted across Europe, reaching number one in Ireland, and United Kingdom where it became the third best selling song of 2010.

[47] According to Mandler, the original idea for the video was citing Max Headroom, a fictional artificial intelligence character from 1980s British television and film.

"[48] Mandler described the visuals in the clip as "Hitchcock-ian", as well as simply capturing Usher in his element, as he said he wanted the R&B singer's talent to take over.

"[48]The video begins with Usher flickering on a television in a room, before we see him in a scene dancing with blue flashing lights, and will.i.am.

Usher grooves with shadows, puffs out O's with cigar smoke, and then links back up with his ladies on a primary colored dance floor to show off his steps.

[56] Usher later performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America and live in the United Kingdom on Britain's Got Talent and at Capital FM's Summertime Ball concert at Wembley Stadium.

[60] The song was performed alongside "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

[61] VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News, "We said to him, 'We want to do the best televised dance routine that you've done in years.

"[62] He was aided by about a dozen background dancers, the males in skeleton-like costumes, and the females donning a one-piece, gloves and boots.

[52] Jayson Rodriguez of MTV News commented, "The singer moved and grooved, proving that he's the R&B star that everyone pays attention to for the big moments.

"[61] Rochell D. Thomas, also of the site said "Call it what you will: talent, swag, skills...When he steps on the dance floor, some mysterious thing comes out of him and puts the G in groove.

"[52] Thomas went on to say that Usher's dance moves would make "the late great Michael Jackson jealous" in the stage production "that included more special-effects bells and whistles than a summer blockbuster.

"[63] Usher appeared with The Black Eyed Peas to perform the song during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show.