Upon its limited release, "All Eyez on Me" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Michael Endelman wrote in his early review for "The Boston Globe" that "like recent releases from Christina Aguilera and Brandy, the new album from Monica finds the 21-year-old R&B singer trying to escape her teen-pop past. Thankfully, the result is more successful than Aguilera's recent foray into brazen sexuality and strained grunge rock. Her first album in four years, "All Eyez on Me" continues the pleasant, light-hearted soul that Monica is known for, while expanding into more mature subject matter." "Blender" magazine, on the other hand, rated the album two out of five stars only.