In May 2014, it was announced that Kaytranada had signed a deal withUK-based independent record labelXL Recordings and planned to release anEP in the summer.[4] During an interview with New York-based music magazineThe Fader, theMontreal 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.'"[5] Kaytranada described the untitled EP as "abstract-feeling" and "uptempo,neo-soul," and was aiming to "make it as funky as possible".[5] In addition, he confirmed that he had worked withVic Mensa,Karriem Riggins, Reva DeVito, and Shay Lia amongst others.[5][6]
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.[7][8] However, no updates had been provided regarding the EP's release date.[9][10]
As reported on December 15, 2014, Kaytranada expanded his project into a full-length album.[10] OnFacebook, he posted a glimpse of his renewed contract with XL, along with the words "ALBUM COMING."[11][12] Serving as the second single is thetrap-influenced "Drive Me Crazy", featuringChicago rapperVic Mensa, released on January 27, 2015.[13][14]
On September 7, 2015, Kaytranada took toTwitter to announce the album's official title:99.9%.[15] DuringBenji B's "Montreal Special" onBBC 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.[16][17] Furthermore, he confirmed that Canadian instrumental bandBadBadNotGood andThe Internet's lead vocalistSyd were both recruited as guests contributors.[18] Speaking about BadBadNotGood, he revealed that they recorded about fifteen tracks together, though only two were selected for the album.[16][19] He also premiered a track from the album titled "Bus Ride" which features drum work fromDetroitjazz percussionist and producerKarriem Riggins, andaccompaniment fromToronto multi-instrumentalist and producer River Tiber.[20][21][22] On Twitter, he confirmed that the album would be released on May 6.[18][23]
The following day, Kaytranada unveiled viaInstagram andFacebook the artworks and track listing for99.9%, along with short individualanimations corresponding to each track.[22][24] The album's digital version was made available for pre-order ahead of its release oniTunes andAmazon, while its physical format could be pre-ordered onXL Recordings' online store.[25][26] The physical product comes on a double12-inch vinyl with agatefold sleeve, and includes a free CD of the digital album.[26]
On April 7, 2016, "Glowed Up", which featuresAnderson .Paak on vocals, debuted onAnnie Mac'sBBC Radio 1 show, with the music video, directed by Bo Mirosseni, premiering soon after.[27][28] Marc Hogan fromPitchfork 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".[29]
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.[30] Designed by artist Ricardo Cavolo, who also worked on the album's artwork, the game is aside-scroller modeled after 2013's popular mobile gameFlappy Bird.[30][31] Players must navigate an airplane through obstacles while collecting items to earn points.[30][31] 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.[31] On May 10, 2016, a music video for "Lite Spots" was released.[32]
99.9% received critical acclaim upon its release. AtMetacritic, 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".[34] BothPitchfork andSpin 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 on99.9% nods back at that heritage of percussion-driven synthesis."[40] AtPopMatters, 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 keeps99.9% listenable throughout."[45]
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