Montreal-based producer Kaytranada has been teasing the world with Soundcloud mixes and Boiler Room sets for years now. And ever since the drop of his massive remix of Janet Jackson’s If in 2012, people have been begging him for an album. The 23-year-old, whose sound has been described as uptempo neo soul and black soul, finally and spectacularly delivers with 99.9%.
You mightn’t become aware of how much you neededa Kaytranada full-length until you hear him working his magic. The entire thing is unbelievably well-crafted, encompassing vocal-led hits and instrumental wonders. The songs bleed into each other nicely, and he flits between genres with the sort of finesse that took Flying Lotus multiple albums to perfect.
Bursting with a lineup of guest vocalists and instrumentalists, including AlunaGeorge, Anderson .Paak, Karriem Riggins, Little Dragon, Syd, Badbadnotgood and Vic Mensa, 99.9% shows off the best of these powerhouse talents while retaining Kaytranada’s magic touch. Got It Good, heralding the re-emergence of Craig David, is a standout. It channels the lyrical sweetness of David’s Fill Me In with some extremely sexy bottom-end thrown in for good measure. Other notable bangers include One Too Many (feat. Phonte), Leave Me Alone (feat. Shay Lia)and the lead single Glowed Up (with .Paak).
You can’t call yourself a neo-soul producer without some sensuality, and 99.9% has it in spades. You’re The One (with Syd) is smooth and moreish as hell; while the instrumental Bus Ride seamlessly moves from Dilla-esque hip hop to the world of nu-jazz before you even realise what’s happening.
99.9% is one of those exceptionally rare albums where every single track – even the more experimental ones – could be re-purposed for multiple settings and fit in just as well every time. Seriously, Kaytranada is the newborn king, and 99.9% is his ascension to the throne.
By Ali Schnabel
