This song originally occupied a place between “The Reynolds Pamphlet” and “Burn” in the off-Broadway production of Hamilton, but was cut from the show. In it, Angelica steps in for the audience and rips Hamilton a new one following the revelations of “The Reynolds Pamphlet,” condemning him for the damage he has done to himself and his family.

It was performed by members of the cast and the orchestra for a Ham4Ham show, but this is the first official studio recording of the song. Lin-Manuel Miranda hand-picked Dessa to perform it for the Mixtape, saying to Entertainment Weekly that he knew she had “the Angelica skillset: She’s an incredible singer and an incredible rapper. "Congratulations” has both those things in equal measure.”