"Wake Up in the Sky" is a hip hop, pop, and soul song with a trap beat, with lyrics about feeling good and enjoying life.

"Wake Up in the Sky" received mostly positive reviews from music critics who found its chorus catchy and appreciated it for eschewing the trap-indebted sound of Evil Genius.

The song reached number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was certified six times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In June 2018, Gucci Mane told Billboard that he worked with who he considered the best producers for Evil Genius to show his fans he is "still passionate about the music".

[22][23] His references to King Cole and White recall those of "Slow Jamz" (2003) by Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.

Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre wrote that Mane "sounds rejuvenated as he ad-libs over the bright instrumental", and Mars "effortlessly, [steals] the spotlight with a silky hook".

[16] Jordan Bassett of NME felt the song "shimmers with a lush R&B hook" and commented, "This is the most commercial Gucci's ever sounded, but could anyone deny him his euphoria?"

[25] Brody Kenny of Consequence of Sound regarded "Wake Up in the Sky" as an album highlight, calling Mane's singing "unexpectedly delightful".

[27] Writing for Pitchfork, Evan Rytlewski labeled the collaboration "prim", arguing that it eschewed the "of-the-moment trap" of Evil Genius.

[20] HipHopDX's Daniel Spielberger was more critical of the track, writing that it "never comes into a groove and fails to achieve the joyful, soulful vibe of an all-time classic.

[31] Following the release of its music video, the song rose to a peak of number 11, tying 2017's "I Get the Bag" as Mane's highest-charting single as a lead artist in the US.

[40][41][42] The single also reached number 49 in Portugal, where it spent 18 weeks on the chart and was certified gold by the Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa (AFP).

[51] Aaron Williams of Uproxx felt that it was a "tongue-in-cheek homage to the television performances of yesterday", likening it to the program American Bandstand.

[53] Idolator's Mike Wass compared the visual's "retro aesthetic" to Mars's music video for "Finesse" (2018), deeming it "super suave".