Described as a new jack swing song inspired by 1970s soul music,[1][2] it contains a sample of "Stop, Look, Listen" (1989) by American rapper MC Lyte.

In a retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh from Albumism said that the song followed what seemed to be Combs' formula for the Yonkers, "by revolving around another '80s hip-hop sample, this time from Audio Two's close associate and femcee rhyme titan MC Lyte's "Stop, Look, and Listen".

[4] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as "a slick, Whitney-esque R&B track that gives Blige a chance to prove she can sing just as well as rap.

"[5] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "All of a sudden soul is making a comeback, helped in part perhaps by a new show on Radio 1 on Wednesday nights devoted to the music.

"Reminisce" thus becomes another in a long line of New Jack Swing tracks to chart in this region although none have gone on to major success.