Kaytranada’s 99.9% has won the 2016 Polaris Music Prize. The annual award honors the best album from Canada as selected by a jury of music journalists, bloggers, and broadcasters.
The Haitian-Canadian producer beat out a number of formidable nominees, including Grimes (Art Angels), Black Mountain (IV), Carly Rae Jepsen (E•MO•TION), White Lung (Paradise), and PUP (The Dream Is Over).
Released through XL Recordings, 99.9% boasts contributions from Anderson .Paak, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, AlunaGeorge, and BadBadNotGood, among others. “Whether working in strands of hip-hop, house, funk, or whatever next might come to mind, there’s something inherently glowing about his beats,” wrote executive editor Adam Kivel in his review of the album.
Along with bragging rights, Katranada receives a $50,000 cash prize. Past winners include Arcade Fire, Feist, Fucked Up, Caribou, Owen Pallett, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Tanya Tagaq, and last year’s Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Polaris Music Prize 2016 Shortlist:
Black Mountain – IV
Basia Bulat – Good Advice
Grimes – Art Angels
Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
Kaytranada – 99.9%
Jessy Lanza – Oh No
PUP – The Dream Is Over
Andy Shauf – The Party
U.S. Girls – Half Free
White Lung – Paradise
