Described as a "hip-hop R&B song", it was written by Yoo Young-jin, who also composed it with Dwayne Abernathy Jr., Taylor Monet Parks, and Ryan Jhun.

On December 26, 2021, SM Entertainment launched a new female project group called Girls on Top, along with its first unit Got the Beat.

[1][2] The first teaser image of the unit was released through Girls on Top and SM Town's official social media accounts.

[3] From December 28 to 29, teaser images were released for each individual group member (in order: BoA, Taeyeon, Seulgi, Winter, Hyoyeon, Wendy, Karina).

[4][5]"Step Back" was composed by Dwayne Abernathy Jr., Taylor Monet Parks, and Ryan Jhun, along with Yoo Young-jin, who also wrote the Korean lyrics of the song.

[9] Tim Chan of Rolling Stone noted the dubstep, hip-hop, and electro house elements incorporated in the bass-heavy track with Got the Beat "alternating between singing, rapping, and a cheerleader chant-style chorus".

[13] "Step Back" was met with mostly negative reviews from music critics, who panned its lyrical content but was favorable towards the group's vocals.

[9] Benedetta Geddo of Teen Vogue called it a "swagger-filled" song that showcases the group's "impeccable" vocals we are used to hearing from SM Entertainment artists.

[18] Mary Siroky of Consequence described the track as "less of an empowerment anthem" and noted that it had seemingly left many fans "disappointed" from what the group was marketed for.

[42][43] On January 1, 2022, Got the Beat unveiled their first "Step Back" performance stage at the SM Town Live 2022: SMCU Express at Kwangya.

[44] For the performance, choreography by Kiel Tutin, ReiNa, and Kyle Hanagami, who have worked with Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, was commissioned.

With that, Kim Soo-jung of No Cut News praised the camera work of the SM for maximizing the strength of the stage video.