Doc McKinney

Canadian-American record producer (born 1971)

Doc McKinney

Birth name| Martin McKinney
Born|  (1971-08-27) August 27, 1971 (age 53)
Canada
Origin| Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)| Record producer, songwriter
Formerly of|

* Esthero

Musical artist

Martin "Doc" McKinney (born August 27, 1971) is a Canadian-American record producer and songwriter.[1] He was formerly one half of the duo (now solo act) Esthero. McKinney is widely credited with developing The Weeknd's sound as well as producing his mixtapes House of Balloons and Thursday;[2] and executive producing and producing the majority of his third album Starboy (2016), which earned McKinney the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[3][4]

## Life and career

[edit]

Born in Canada and raised in Minneapolis, McKinney was exposed to the Twin Cities indie scene.[5] During his adolescent years, McKinney played in various punk rock and hip hop based groups. While the cities' most influential contributions came out of the 1980s, McKinney was immersed in the music scene of that decade.[5]

McKinney settled in Toronto in 1994, as an aspiring producer. McKinney was introduced to Jenny Bea Englishman – now known as "Esthero"[6] – which led him to becoming one half of the then duo.[7] The introduction was headed up by then EMI Publishing President, Michael McCarty. After producing and writing all the music to their entire breakthrough album Breath From Another,[8] McKinney left the group and Esthero kept the groups name and became a solo act. She remained with Sony until 2000 when she was released from contract and went on to sign with Warner/Reprise where she was ultimately released again from the contract. [7] McKinney went on to produce Res – and co writing her critically acclaimed album, How I Do, alongside Santi White (Santigold).[9] McKinney has since worked with Santi White (Santigold) on various projects, including her 2008 release of her Solid Gold Mixtape.[10]

Since then, McKinney has had the opportunity to work with Sting, Drake, Kelis, Dr. Dre, G-Love, Raphael Saadiq, Mary J. Blige,[11] Sinéad O'Connor,[11][12] Alice Smith, Amanda Blank, Trouble Andrew, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest),[13] Hawksley Workman[14] as well as Latin artists Belinda, RBD and Debi Nova.

## Personal life

[edit]

McKinney is a supporter of War Child (charity), GEM's – Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, and Red Hot Organization (AIDS Awareness).[15] As an appreciation of his support, he donates his work as a producer/songwriter/engineer.

## Selected production discography

[edit]

Release Date | Album Title | Artist | Song Titles | Label

|
|
|
|

1995 | Single | k-os | Rise Like The Sun | Independent
1998 | Breath from Another | Esthero | All Songs | Work/Sony Music
2001 | How I Do | RES | All Songs | MCA/Universal
2002 | Red Hot and Riot | Kelis | So Be It
Red Hot | MCA
2002 | Instant Vintage | Raphael Saadiq | Tek 2
Pookie | Universal Music
2002 | Sex Sells | Stiffed | Wathca Gonna Go
Nighttime Lovin | Coolhunter/Ryko
2003 | Lover, Fighter | Hawksley Workman | Smoke Baby | Isadora Records/Universal Records
2003 | Peace Songs | k-os | Livin In A World Corrupt | Isadora Records/Universal Music
2004 | Sacred Love | Sting (musician)
feat. will.i.am | Stolen Car (Remix) | Interscope Records/Universal Music
2005 | Wikked Lil' Grrrls | Esthero | Wikked Lil Grrrls
If Tha Mood
Fastlane
Bad Boy Clyde | Reprise/Wea
2005 | Burned Again | Stiffed (band) | Run | Outlook
2006 | Utopia | Belinda (entertainer) | Contigo O Sin Ti | EMI/Televisa
2007 | Buck The World | Young Buck
feat. Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) | Slow Ya Roll | G-Unit/Interscope Records/Universal Records
2008 | Solid Gold Mixtape | Santigold | Guns of Brooklyn | Downtown Records/Universal Records
2008 | Between The Beautifuls | Hawksley Workman | Prettier Face
Piano Blink | Isadora Records/Universal Records
2008 | Los Manlicious | Hawksley Workman | Pretty Girls
Lonely People
In My Blood
Fatty Wants to Dance
Prettier Face
Piano Blink | Isadora Records/Universal Records
2009 | Call and Response | Maroon 5 | Best That We Break (Remix) | Interscope Records/Universal Records
2009 | Shame On Me | Amanda Blank | I Love You | Downtown Records/Universal Records
2009 | Para Olvdarte De Mi | RBD | Camino Al Sol | EMI/Telivisa
2009 | Girls Educational and Mentoring Services | Mary J. Blige and Sinéad O'Connor | This Is To Mother You | Independent
2010 | Luna Nueva | Debi Nova | We Were Young
Don't Wanna Forget | Decca Records/Universal Records
2010 | Dreams of a Troubled Man | Trouble Andrew | Stop Me
Condition
Wasted
Cadillac
Flaunts It
Oh No | Virgin Records
2010 | Stray Bullets | Cee Lo Green | "Champain" | Mixtape
2011 | House of Balloons | The Weeknd | Producer | Independent
2011 | Thursday | The Weeknd | Producer | Independent
2011 | Take Care | Drake | "The Ride" | Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
2011 | Shake It Out | Florence and The Machine | "Shake it Out" The Weeknd Remix | Island Records
2011 | Free Download | The Weeknd | "Trust Issues" The Weeknd Remix | Independent[16]
2012 | TBD | Yadi | " Guillotine Remix" | Warner UK
2012 | Trilogy | The Weeknd | Producer/Executive Producer | XO,Universal Republic
2014 | Free Download | Spooky Black | "Reason" | Independent
2016 | Starboy | The Weeknd | Executive Producer | XO, Universal Republic
2019 | Non-album track | JoJo | Sabotage | Warner Records, Clover Music
2020 | Good to Know | JoJo | So Bad
Lonely Hearts | Warner Records, Clover Music

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Doc McKinney". Grammy.com. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
2. ^ "The Weeknd ... House of Balloons". Silencenogood.net. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
3. ^ Interview with Doc McKinney Paul Tingen. Retrieved on March 31, 2018
4. ^ "Award Winners Best Urban Contemporary Album". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
5. ^ a b Gawle, Darren. "Mis-Quote Me and I'll Kill You! - Interview". Dropd.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
6. ^ "Esthero". Freebase.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
7. ^ a b "Breath from Another: Esthero: Music". Amazon.com. 1998. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
8. ^ "Esthero - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
9. ^ "Res - How I Do". Btmon.com. Retrieved 20 May 2006.
10. ^ "Martin McKinney". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
11. ^ a b "This is to Mother You | Girls Educational & Mentoring Service (GEMS)". Gems-girls.org. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
12. ^ "Fashion By The Finest". Fashionbythefinest.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
13. ^ "Q&A: Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Doc McKinney - Boards". 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
14. ^ "Hawksley Workman: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
15. ^ "Call + Response". 8 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-08. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
16. ^ "Martin McKinney Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.