The album's title refers to a miscalculation made by Deadmau5 on his Ustream channel, where he mistakenly said that his live setup of four banks of four "equals 12" instead of 16.

Deadmau5 was the house DJ at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards show hosted by Chelsea Handler in Los Angeles, California on September 12.

The sixth and final single was "Raise Your Weapon", a song featuring vocals from Greta Svabo Bech and was co-produced by Cydney Sheffield and Skrillex, released on May 23, 2011, became a hit on the charts.

[3] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone touted the album writing, "4×4=12 is audacious, mixing generic house grooves with electric fare.

Annie Zaleski of Alternative Press wrote, "The collection is mostly instrumental tracks, ranging in style from insistent progressive house to watery techno...Without vocals to provide structure, 4×4=12's variety stems from Deadmau5's sense of dynamics and pacing, as well as his diverse sonic influences".

"[12] Dave Simpson of The Guardian shared in Stewart's sentiments by noting, "Undoubtedly, the Deadmau5 appeal hinges on the astonishing live show in which Zimmerman performs in a giant, illuminated mouse's head, but it wouldn't work without his tracks.

His third production compilation again shows that he is a master at doing simple electro house music very well: humongous beats and basslines blend with straightforward chord progressions and, when interest may start to lag, sonic diversions.