99.9%

99.9%
Studio album by Kaytranada
Released May 6, 2016
Recorded 2014–16
Genre
Length 59:08
Label
Producer Kaytranada
Kaytranada chronology
Supreme Laziness
(The Celestics)
(2014)		 99.9%
(2016)
Alternative cover
Canadian cover
Singles from 99.9%
  1. "Leave Me Alone"
    Released: August 12, 2014
  2. "Drive Me Crazy"
    Released: January 27, 2015
  3. "Bus Ride"
    Released: March 17, 2016
  4. "Glowed Up"
    Released: April 7, 2016
  5. "Lite Spots"
    Released: May 10, 2016

99.9% is the debut studio album by Canadian electronic music producer Kaytranada, released on May 6, 2016, through XL Recordings worldwide and HW&W Recordings in Canada. The 15-track album features guest contributions from the likes of Anderson .Paak, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, Syd, Craig David, AlunaGeorge, and BadBadNotGood amongst others. 99.9% was supported by five singles: "Leave Me Alone" featuring Shay Lia, "Drive Me Crazy" featuring Vic Mensa, the Karriem Riggins and River Tiber-assisted instrumental "Bus Ride", "Glowed Up" featuring Anderson .Paak, and "Lite Spots".[1]

On September 19, 2016, the album was named as the winner of the 2016 Polaris Music Prize.[2]

Background and promotion

In May 2014, it was announced that Kaytranada had signed a deal with UK-based independent record label XL Recordings and planned to release an EP in the summer.[3] During an interview with New York-based music magazine The Fader, the Montreal producer disclosed that XL is "one of the labels I always wanted to be on […] It's a good label for people who are sort of lost and are like, 'Let me see what's going on.'"[4] Kaytranada described the untitled EP as "abstract-feeling" and "uptempo, neo-soul," and was aiming to "make it as funky as possible."[4] In addition, he confirmed that he had worked with Vic Mensa, Karriem Riggins, Reva DeVito, and Shay Lia amongst others.[4][5]

On August 12, 2014, at the announcement of the EP's tentative title, So Bad, a song named "Leave Me Alone", featuring vocalist and fellow Montreal native Shay Lia, was released as the lead single.[6][7] However, no updates had been provided regarding the EP's release date.[8][9]

As reported on December 15, 2014, Kaytranada expanded his project into a full-length album.[9] On Facebook, he posted a glimpse of his renewed contract with XL, along with the words "ALBUM COMING." [10][11] Serving as the second single is the trap-influenced "Drive Me Crazy", featuring Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, released on January 27, 2015.[12][13]

On September 7, 2015, Kaytranada took to Twitter to announce the album's official title: 99.9%.[14] During Benji B's "Montreal Special" on BBC Radio 1 on March 16, 2016, he shared more details about his long-awaited effort. The producer expounded on the album title, explaining that it reflects his dissatisfaction and indecisiveness when it comes to his musical endeavor.[15][16] Furthermore, he confirmed that Canadian instrumental band BadBadNotGood and The Internet's lead vocalist Syd were both recruited as guests contributors.[17] Speaking about BadBadNotGood, he revealed that they recorded about fifteen tracks together, though only two were selected for the album.[15][18] He also premiered a track from the album titled "Bus Ride" which features drum work from Detroit jazz percussionist and producer Karriem Riggins, and accompaniment from Toronto multi-instrumentalist and producer River Tiber.[19][20][21] On Twitter, he confirmed that the album would be released on May 6.[17][22]

The following day, Kaytranada unveiled via Instagram and Facebook the artworks and track listing for 99.9%, along with short individual animations corresponding to each track.[21][23] The album's digital version was made available for pre-order ahead of its release on iTunes and Amazon, while its physical format could be pre-ordered on XL Recordings' online store.[24][25] The physical product comes on a double 12-inch vinyl with a gatefold sleeve, and includes a free CD of the digital album.[25]

On April 7, 2016, "Glowed Up", which features Anderson .Paak on vocals, debuted on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show, with the music video, directed by Bo Mirosseni, premiering soon after.[26][27] Marc Hogan from Pitchfork gave the song a "Best New Track" designation, stating that "It's a track where two complementary artists sound like they are right where they want to be, and the pleasure is in how they bring us into this world, too".[28]

In anticipation of the album's release, an album-themed video game, 99.9%: The Game, was launched on Kaytranada's website on April 20, 2016.[29] Designed by artist Ricardo Cavolo, who also worked on the album's artwork, the game is a side-scroller modeled after 2013's popular mobile game Flappy Bird.[29][30] Players must navigate an airplane through obstacles while collecting items to earn points.[29][30] Players who attain a high score of over a hundred points will be rewarded with a free download of "Nobody Beats the Kay," a bonus track from the album.[30] On May 10, 2016, a music video for "Lite Spots" was released.[31]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[32]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[33]
Clash8/10[34]
Consequence of SoundB+[35]
Exclaim!8/10[36]
HipHopDX[37]
Mixmag9/10[38]
The Observer[39]
Pitchfork8.0/10[40]
PopMatters[41]
Spin8/10[42]

The album received critical acclaim upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to all reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on a number of 21 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[32] Both Pitchfork and Spin gave the album a rating of 8 out of 10. Pitchfork's Jonah Bromwich wrote, "The genre-defying stew of funk, soul, R&B, and beat and dance music that Kaytranada has cooked up on 99.9% nods back at that heritage of percussion-driven synthesis."[40] At PopMatters, which gives a rating out of ten stars, the album received an average rating of 6 stars. In his review, Chris Conaton wrote, "Even though [Kaytranada] doesn't do every genre he attempts equally skillfully, there's a pop music core to most of these songs that keeps 99.9% listenable throughout."[41]

Kaytranada has won the 2016 Polaris Music Prize for the album.[43]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank
The Guardian The Best Albums of 2016 2016
The Independent Best Albums of 2016 2016
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2016 2016
Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2016
The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 2016 2016
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016

Track listing

All tracks are produced by Kaytranada.

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Track Uno"  
 5:44
2. "Bus Ride" (featuring Karriem Riggins and River Tiber)
 2:13
3. "Got It Good" (featuring Craig David)
 3:48
4. "Together" (featuring AlunaGeorge and GoldLink)
 3:17
5. "Drive Me Crazy" (featuring Vic Mensa)
 4:37
6. "Weight Off" (featuring BADBADNOTGOOD)
 2:35
7. "One Too Many" (featuring Phonte)
 3:38
8. "Despite the Weather"  
  • Bob Selvin
  • Celestin
 2:01
9. "Glowed Up" (featuring Anderson .Paak)
 4:58
10. "Breakdance Lesson N.1"  
  • David Frank
  • Celestin
  • Michael Murphy
 4:28
11. "You're the One" (featuring Syd)
 3:47
12. "Vivid Dreams" (featuring River Tiber)
  • Celestin
  • Paxton-Beesley
 4:36
13. "Lite Spots"  
 3:50
14. "Leave Me Alone" (featuring Shay Lia)
  • Celestin
  • Shay Lia
 4:37
15. "Bullets" (featuring Little Dragon)
 4:59
Total length:
 59:08
Kaytranada.com bonus track
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
16. "Nobody Beats the Kay"  Celestin 2:03
Notes

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[52] 21
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[53] 38
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[54] 106
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[55] 24
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[56] 29
French Albums (SNEP)[57] 81
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[58] 94
Irish Albums (IRMA)[59] 83
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[60] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 54
UK Albums (OCC)[62] 31
US Billboard 200[63] 73
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[64] 2

References

  1. ↑ Fantoni, Laurent (March 19, 2016). "Kaytranada shares new track 'Bus Ride' featuring Karriem Riggins". factmag.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Kaytranada wins 2016 Polaris Music Prize for his album 99.9%". The Globe and Mail, September 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ Hudson, Alex (May 14, 2014). "Kaytranada Signs to XL". exclaim.ca. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 McDermott, Patrick D. (May 13, 2014). "Interview: Kaytranada on His Funky XL Debut: "It's definitely going to surprise you"". TheFader.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ Hudson, Alex (May 14, 2014). "Kaytranada Signs to XL". exclaim.ca. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hear Kaytranada's 'Leave Me Alone' from forthcoming So Bad EP". factmag.com. August 12, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ Chiu, David (August 12, 2014). "Stream Kaytranada's New EP Track, "Leave Me Alone"". TheFader.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ Richard (August 12, 2014). "Kaytranada ft. Shay Lia - Leave Me Alone". DJBooth.net. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Kaytranada upgrades delayed XL debut to full album". factmag.com. December 16, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ Philip (December 18, 2014). "Kaytranada to Expand Upcoming EP Into Album". EDMTunes.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  11. ↑ Cheung, HP (December 16, 2014). "KAYTRANADA Upgrades Upcoming EP 'So Bad' to Full Album". HYPETRAK.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  12. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (January 27, 2015). "Kaytranada - Drive Me Crazy Feat. Vic Mensa [New Song]". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  13. ↑ Black, Adrienne (January 27, 2015). "Kaytranada ft. Vic Mensa - "Drive Me Crazy"". PigeonsAndPlanes.com. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  14. ↑ "KAILLETRA on Twitter: "99.9%"". Twitter.com. September 7, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Middleton, Ryan (March 17, 2016). "Kaytranada Announces Album 99.9%, Release Date, Shares 'Bus Ride'". MusicTimes.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  16. ↑ Ilochonwu, Chika (March 19, 2016). "Kaytranada Unveils Artwork + Tracklist for "99.9%"". BLUNTIQ.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (March 17, 2016). "Kaytranada Recruits BADBADNOTGOOD, Syd tha Kid for New Album, Shares "Bus Ride" [ft. Karriem Riggins]". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  18. ↑ Murphy, Sarah (March 17, 2016). "Kaytranada Reveals Guests and Release Date for '99.9%,' Shares "Bus Ride". exclaim.ca. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  19. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (March 18, 2016). "Kaytranada Announces Debut Album 99.9%, Plots Tour". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  20. ↑ Breihan, Tom (March 17, 2016). "Kaytranada – "Bus Ride" (Feat. Karriem Riggins)". Stereogum.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  21. 1 2 Cakes, Briana (March 18, 2016). "Kaytranada Reveals Details About Debut Album '99.9%' & Takes Us On A 'Bus Ride'". SoulBounce.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  22. ↑ "KAILLETRA on Twitter: "99.9%, out in May 6."". Twitter.com. March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  23. ↑ Meka; Shake (March 17, 2016). "Kaytranada Announces '99.9%' LP, Drops "Bus Ride" with Karriem Riggins". 2DOPEBOYZ.com. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  24. ↑ James (March 21, 2016). "New Music: Kaytranada – Bus Ride ft. Karriem Riggins & River Tiber". disclike.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  25. 1 2 "KAYTRANADA 99.9%". xlrecordings.com. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ Brown, Lisa (April 7, 2016). "Watch Kaytranada Team Up With Anderson.Paak for 'Glowed Up' Video". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  27. ↑ Malik, Sarah (April 9, 2016). "Kaytranada Shares Video For 'Glowed Up' With Anderson .Paak". MTV.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  28. ↑ Hogan, Marc (April 8, 2016). ""Glowed Up" [ft. Anderson .Paak] by Kaytranada | Tracks". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 Camp, Zoe (20 Apr 2016). "Play Kaytranada's Addictive Video Game Inspired by His Upcoming Album 99.9%". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 20 Apr 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 "Beat Kaytranada's New Video Game and Unlock '99.9%' Bonus Track". Thump.Vice.com. 20 Apr 2016. Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
  31. ↑ Josephs, Brian (10 May 2016). "Kaytranada and His Robo Buddy Dance Away to 'Lite Spots'". Spin.com. Retrieved 12 Aug 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Reviews for 99.9% by Kaytranada". Metacritic. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  33. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "99.9% – Kaytranada". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  34. ↑ Hussain, Shahzaib (May 6, 2016). "Kaytranada - 99.9%". Clash. Retrieved Aug 12, 2016.
  35. ↑ Kivel, Adam (May 18, 2016). "Kaytranada – 99.9%". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  36. ↑ Keating, Daryl (May 4, 2016). "Kaytranada 99.9%". Exclaim!. Retrieved Aug 12, 2016.
  37. ↑ Gretchko, Andrew (May 16, 2016). "Kaytranada - 99.9% Review". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  38. ↑ Moore, Ralph (May 4, 2016). "Kaytranada – '99.9%'". Mixmag. Retrieved Aug 12, 2016.
  39. ↑ Empire, Kitty (May 8, 2016). "Kaytranada: 99.9% review – a testament to hip-hop chops". The Guardian. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  40. 1 2 Bromwich, Jonah (May 13, 2016). "Kaytranada: 99.9%". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  41. 1 2 Conaton, Chris (July 12, 2016). "Kaytranada- 99.9%". PopMatters. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  42. ↑ Josephs, Brian (May 11, 2016). "Review: Kaytranada Gives '99.9%' as He Ascends From DJ to Producer". Spin. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Kaytranada is the winner of the 2016 Polaris Music Prize". CBCmusic.ca. 20 Sep 2016. Retrieved 21 Sep 2016.
  44. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2016: 40-31". The Guardian. November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Best Albums of 2016". The Independent. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  46. ↑ "NME's Albums of the Year 2016". NME. November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Albums of the Year". Rough Trade. November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2016". The Skinny. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  49. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2016". Stereogum. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  50. ↑ http://www.whosampled.com/Kaytranada/Track-Uno/
  51. ↑ http://www.whosampled.com/Kaytranada/Lite-Spots/
  52. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Kaytranada – 99.9%". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kaytranada – 99.9%" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kaytranada – 99.9%" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Kaytranada – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Kaytranada. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kaytranada – 99.9%" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kaytranada – 99.9%". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kaytranada – 99.9%" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  59. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 19, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Kaytranada – 99.9%". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kaytranada – 99.9%". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Kaytranada – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Kaytranada. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  64. ↑ "Kaytranada – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums for Kaytranada. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
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