Writing for "NME", Louis Pattison labeled the song "pretty special," describing it as "a rare sort of track that brings little but chest-pumped arrogance and shameless cash-flashing to the table." Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania of "RapReviews" viewed "Can't Tell Me Nothing" as "brilliant" and pointed out that the beat, verses and chorus are "all classic stuff." "Spin" journalist Charles Aaron praised the song's "soulful double-unconsciousness." For "Pitchfork", Mark Pytlik asserted that the song's production somehow takes "on new life in context of the record." In a less enthusiastic review, "The Guardian"s Dorian Lynskey branded it a "tense, angry" track, though criticized certain lyrics for being disappointing.