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. With fellow Toronto native the Weeknd, McKinney co-produced the mixtapes House of Balloons and Thursday;[2] and co-produced his third album Starboy (2017), which earned McKinney the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[3][4]

Doc McKinney
Birth nameMartin McKinney
Born (1971-08-27) August 27, 1971 (age 52)
Canada
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)Record producer, songwriter
Formerly of

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 co-writing and producing their entire breakthrough album Breath From Another,[8] McKinney carefully transitioned Jenny-Bea into a solo act so she could return to the studio.[7] McKinney went on to produce Res – co-writing and producing 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.