AllMusic rated the album two stars out of five.[1]Billboard found that The Next Episode "walks that fine line between sensuality and pure sexuality with a swagger all its own."[2]
"Hold Me Down" contains excerpts from the composition "Saturday Night", written by Thomas McClary and Harold Hudson and performed by The Commodores.
"That's My Word" contains samples from the composition "Time Is Passing", written by Byron Byrd and performed by Sun.
"Brand New" contains samples from the composition "I Found Love (When I Found You)", written by Sherman Marshall and Phil Pugh and performed by The Spinners.