Sean Fennessey for "Pitchfork" remarked that the opening track "might be the most bandied about joint here, thanks to the presence of Maroon 5's Adam Levine, but guess what? He sounds great. Off-key and blue-eyed selling his soul, but like nearly every risk here, the syrupy pop works." "PopMatters" summarized the song, saying, "With its sweet piano chords and Levine's gentle cooing, the track is probably the best hip-hop lullaby to come along since Slick Rick's 'Children's Story'.'" Chris Deville of "Stereogum" describes "Heard 'Em Say" as a "gorgeously graceful opening song" which despite its gentle nature feels "bigger than life." He continued writing, "Beautiful and understated opener 'Heard 'Em Say' even manages to wring actual human emotion out of hit-making robot Adam Levine. That's just one of the many excellent guest spots throughout." "Slant Magazine" reviewer Vadim Rizov described "Heard 'Em say" as a "vulnerable song" and claims that it redeemed Maroon 5. Eric Henderson, from the same publication, likened Adam Levine's falsetto delivery of the song's chorus to a "butterfly singing." "Rolling Stone" senior writer Brian Hiatt compared his performance of the chorus to that of Stevie Wonder. "Slate"'s Ben Mathis-Lilley claims that Levine had "an indisputably fantastic voice for the wistful soul of 'Heard 'Em Say.'" Cat Warner from the London-based radio station Capital XTRA complimented his polished vocals and implored listeners: "Turn this up loud." Ross Bonaime from "Paste" asserted that Levine's contribution to "Heard 'Em Say" might be one of the best things the singer has ever done. On behalf of "MSN Music", writer Sam Greszes quipped, "A bitingly political and scathing collaboration between Adam Levine and Kanye West? What's not to like?"