At the time of its release, "The Way It Is" was met with critical acclaim for its raw, emotional honesty. Cole's voice, often described as soulful and raspy, brought a fresh perspective to the R&B scene, which was dominated by more pop-oriented sounds. The album's lead single, "I Should Have Cheated," was a breakout hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and establishing Cole as a force to be reckoned with.