 In a retrospective review, Robin Howells of "The Quietus" described the song as a "manifestation of UK hip-hop's anxieties about identity (mainly in relation to US rap) by proxy" since the impact of British grime musicians in popular culture had made it "easy to take Britishness – and more specific local identity – as a given".Colin McKean, writing for the same publication, felt that the song was "so colossal it would always overshadow the album that bore it, no matter how good the album was".The music video for "Witness (1 Hope)", directed by Mat Kirkby, depicts Roots Manuva returning to his real-life former primary school, Woodmansterne Primary School, and competing in their sports day in a "revenge fantasy" for having never been good at sport during his time there.