"turn down for what" received generally positive reviews from music critics and publications. "rolling stone" voted "turn down for what" as the second best song of the year 2014, saying, "the year's nutsiest party jam was also the perfect protest banger for a generation fed up with everything. dj snake brings the synapse-rattling edm and southern trap music; lil jon brings the dragon-fire holler for a hilarious, glorious, glowstick-punk fuck you." in january 2015, "turn down for what" was ranked at no. 9, tied with beyoncés "flawless", on "the village voice"s annual year-end pazz & jop critics' poll.