It was written by Braxton, Jerome Armstrong, Terrence Battle, Michael White, and DJ Frank E and produced by the latter for her seventh studio album Pulse (2010).

A Spanish version of the track, titled "Ayer", was recorded with Alexander Acha but remains unreleased to this day.

[8] Braxton also promoted the single in the UK with performances on GMTV on 11 May 2010,[9] Loose Women and The David Dickinson Show on 18 May 2010.

[12] Andy Kellman from Allmusic said: "'Yesterday' is a bitter breakup ballad in which the teeth-clenched 'I don’t love ya/Don’t need ya/Can’t stand ya no more' sounds very real".

[13] Mikael Wood from Los Angeles Times said: "Opener 'Yesterday' cribs its twinkly emo-soul texture (and some of its airy vocal melody) from Beyoncé's 'Broken-Hearted Girl'".

[21] The video features singer Brooke Hogan as well as basketball players Shannon Brown and Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers.