However, Wash was not featured in the music video or singles cover art as it was customary for Katrin Quinol, a French model, of Guadelope descent, to be used as the 'face' of the group, and it was her that was featured lip-synching the lyrics sung by Wash.[7] In 1990, after suing over false advertising, Wash reached an out-of-court settlement with Black Box record label RCA, with financial compensation and a guarantee of proper credit in the future.

[8] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Not even the litigation alleging Martha Wash is the actual singer of group's hits can cool interest in this Italo-house act.

Busy rave bears marks similar to previous hits, with a cute (and uncredited) rap adding a street vibe.

"[13] Davydd Chong from Record Mirror said, "Needless to say, this is hedonism-a-go-go, slapped onto a seven-inch lump of plastic by the Italian mob.

It added that "it can be guiltlessly admitted that 'Strike It Up' is a masterpiece, and it's hard to imagine anyone else's voice [than Martha Wash] rising above the song's battalion of piano house, synth stabs, and, yes, one gigantic 4/4 beat.

"[6] In 2024, Billboard ranked "Strike It Up" number 29 in their "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time", naming it "an early-’90s diva-house classic with a fantastic Martha Wash vocal".