"Party" was acclaimed by contemporary music critics, who praised André 3000's verses, as well as the production handled by West and Beyoncé's emphatic, yet sensual vocals.

"Party" was written by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Beyoncé, André Lauren Benjamin, Dexter Mills, Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters.

[21] According to David Amidon of PopMatters, the song's music "is largely reminiscent of late 1980s diva histrionics";[22] it is built on scooping and gliding multi-tracked 1990 girl-group harmonies, midtempo bounces,[16][23] a 808-retro beat and a 1980s-style smooth hip hop groove.

[13][15] Gil Kaufman of MTV News commented that the synthesizers and drum machine used in "Party" create a groove reminiscent of "a New Jack Swing seduction.

[2][14] West rhymes about "swag sauce" and "swagu" in the introductory lines, "You a bad girl, your friends bad too / You got the swag sauce, you're drippin' Swagu",[2] before passing the torch to Beyoncé, who begins to sing the first verse slowly and steadily, "I may be young but I'm ready / To give you all my love / I told my girls you can get it / Don't slow it down, just let it go / So in love / I'll give it all away / Just don't tell nobody tomorrow".

[2] After chanting the chorus for a second time, André 3000 surfaces around the 2:15 mark with "some very naughty references" to milk on the verses he raps,[2][15] "... another homeboy, that nigga named Cheese / Fuck wit' me baby, I make it milk 'til it drip down yo' knees", before switching gears altogether and getting philosophical about his own career,[2] "Kiddo say he looks up to me, this just makes me feel old / Never thought that we could become someone else's hero / Man, we were just in the food court eating our gyros",[9] and finally adopting a "multi-syllabic tongue twister" to rap some of the finishing lines.

"[22] This was echoed by Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media, who wrote that "[4's] carefree retro sensibility pops up on three more highlights, including 'Party', which combines a pitch-perfect André 3000 guest verse, a Slick Rick sample, [...] while its bounce provides prime summer barbecue background.

"[16] Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice was also positive: "'Party' sounds right out of The SOS Band's catalog (its plodding tempo is the only thing that lets you know she isn't quoting a particularly poetic, desperately meth-seeking craigslist m4m ad [...])".

"[23] Gil Kaufman of MTV News was also positive, writing that "[...] unlike the at-points frantic 'Run the World (Girls)' [Party] takes its time, lyrically and musically, with Beyoncé luxuriating over her vocals and singing about the beauty of nice and slow.

"[15] Describing "Party" as "a proudly retro slice of R&B", James Reed of The Boston Globe wrote that the song is "an irresistible summer jam that I haven't been able to stop humming for a week straight.

"[36] Similarly, Joanne Dorken of MTV UK described "Party" as a "dance-floor filler ... with that Sasha Fierce edge", before adding that is bound to be a "monster hit" and is a "stand out tune on the album".

Perhaps best exemplifying this spirit is the André 3000 and Kanye West assisted, 'Party' in which Beyoncé relaxes into a beat that, while not be easy to grind to, still works perfectly as a party anthem.

Echoing this sentiment, André’s verse is tranquilized from his customarily rapid-fire delivery to a drawl more reminiscent of Lil’ Wayne than his traditional work with Outkast.

"[39] Bill Lamb from About.com added, "Kanye West and Andre 3000 provide interesting vocal color for 'Party' but the song itself is just a variant on the 'this is my night to be bad' theme.

[59] For the same week ending, Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems reported that "Party" was the most played song on Urban radios for the second non-consecutive time, gaining 464 spins in seven days.

[66] The following, Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems reported that "Party" reached the top spot of the BDS Urban National airplay chart, having amassed 4862 spins, which transitioned into 31.288 million listener impressions.

Cole replaced André 3000 in the clip, which takes viewers back to an old-school backyard celebration full of colorful bikinis, freestyle dancing and a few cameo appearances, including sister Solange Knowles and former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland.

[71] During an interview with WWKX (106.3 MHz FM "Hot 106") Rise & Grind Morning Show, Cole revealed that he was originally supposed to appear on the album version and that Beyoncé later enlisted him when she was ready to release "Party" as a single.

Releasing this track at the end of October seems like an odd choice, as the video involves a grillout and trailer-park pool party that would have sparkled mid-July.

Wearing bikinis, girls, including rapper Dai Burger,[84] were lying in the sun and splashing in the pool as Beyoncé's sister Solange was working the turntables.

"[89] Criticized by James Dinh of MTV News, "[The music video for] 'Party' takes viewers back to an old-school backyard celebration full of colorful bikinis, freestyle dancing and a few familiar faces.

It starts with a dog barking behind a fencing, followed by multiple intercut scenery, which includes two men engaged in a conversation, a woman leaning against a car, a little girl riding a bicycle and a saucepan caught in fire.

"[94] Matt Donnelly of Los Angeles Times concluded: "In a glorious mess of fanny packs, headpieces, blender drinks, dice-throwing and dance circles, Beyonce reminds us that even without elaborate choreography, high fashion or cinematic elements she brings one heck of a party.

[98] Marina Galperina of AOL's The Boombox said "from her neon nails, scintillating bathing suits, sequined mini-dresses, big hair, bright make-up to the sexy shimmying of her still slim physique, all eyes are on Beyonce as she serenades a promise to 'give it all away, just don't tell nobody tomorrow.

'"[99] Jenna Gregory of Marie Claire wrote that Beyoncé shows an "amazing bod in parely-there clothes which you definitely wouldn't find in the maternity section.

"[102] Rap-Up commented "Summer may be over, but Beyoncé gives us another reason to celebrate with the vibrant video" adding "This is one party you won't want to miss.

"[110] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times, who apparently had not received "Party" positively while reviewing 4, however wrote that "[Beyoncé] is an outrageously nimble entertainer, enough so that it compensated for this album’s awkward or halfhearted choices: the too-goofy Kanye West hook on 'Party'.

[108] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News concluded that "it was [Beyoncé's] ability to throw a party during faster jams like 'Party', 'Countdown', 'End of Time' and 'Run the World (Girls)' that put on full display her range as a performer, dancing and singing live the entire night.

[115] Rebecca Thomas of MTV News described the performance, "For one of our favorite numbers, 'Party,' the 4 singer donned full-on showgirl regalia in a heady rendition that saw confetti coming from the roof and dice-shaped beach balls being tossed through the crowd as dancers in large feathered headdresses magically turned up in the aisles.

[119] In January 2012, American rapper Common sang a freestyle rap over the instrumental of Beyoncé's "Party" adding the lyrics, "We can put it all together/ You know the weather/ Me and Jasmine we can find forever".