"Lose Control" is a song featuring American rapper Nelly, produced by Norwegian duo StarGate. The track opens with a keyboard riff that reverberates. As stated by Nadine Cheung of AOL Music, it features "Hilson's impeccable vocals layered over slinky synths". Karen Tye of Adelaide Now described "Lose Control" as a "B-grade version of Rihanna's "What's My Name?". Cheung also commented that on the song, Hilson "is instantly attracted to a guy in the club who knows just how to move." During the chorus, Hilson encourages her man to put his hands on her body and lose control. Nelly later delivers his "sexually charged verse" by "confidently telling his lady friend just how he rolls". Robbie Daw of Idolator compared Nelly's line "on the way you shaking your anus", to Kesha's "Cannibal". After three and a half minutes, "Lose Control" segues into the slow jam "Let Me Down".
Critical reception
Andy Kellman of Allmusic said "Lose Control" was one of the album's direct hits, "despite an anus/famous rhyme from Nelly". Anthony Osei of Complex magazine wrote, "We're a little curious as to why "Lose Control" wasn't her first choice as a single. You really can't go wrong with the production/songwriting combination of StarGate and Ester Dean. Future number-one hit?" Jason Richards of NOW magazine and editors of USA Today, chose "Lose Control" as one of the stand out songs from the album. Aamir Yaqub of SoulCulture.co.uk said the song has a "Rihanna vibe to it probably owed to the production by StarGate". A writer for DesiHits described it as a dance track that was "pure and simple". Andrew Martin of Prefix Mag wrote that "It's unlikely that any new singles off Keri Hilson's No Boys Allowed will have the same chart success as "Pretty Girl Rock". But if any of them can do it, it's 'Lose Control'." Spence D. of IGN Music gave the song a mixed review, stating that it would not fall so flat if the rest of the album had "half the sassy spirit" of "Pretty Girl Rock".
Music video
In late March 2011, Rap-Up reported that Hilson would be filming the music video to "Lose Control" with director Colin Tilley, who previously directed "One Night Stand" and "In the Air", her collaboration with UK rapper Chipmunk. Images from the shoot leaked online in April 2011. The video premiered on Vevo on May 20, 2011.
Live performances
Hilson performed "Lose Control" live for the first time with Nelly during her visit to Australia in April 2011 for Supafest, the largest urban music festival. She also performed the song on the American version of So You ThinkYou Can Dance on June 16, 2011. Shortly after the performance, "Kelly Hilson" became a trending topic on Twitter after the show's host Cat Deeley mispronounced her name and called her Kelly Hilson instead.
