Matt Whalley of AllMusic gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5 and called it "a downtempo album with a unique style."[1] He said, "Fat Jon uses all the elements of a generic downtempo album but does it with a deliberate style and to greater effect."[1] Jon Freer of XLR8R said, "Lightweight Heavy merges the hopped-up swagger of blunted beats with ear-pleasing and beautiful melodies."[3] He described it as "a commendable album full of slow-stepping, melody-rich cuts, steeped in instrumental hip-hop's teapot."[3]
[1]