# Doc McKinney

Martin "Doc" McKinney (born August 27, 1971) is a Canadian-American record producer and songwriter. 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; and co-produced his third album Starboy (2016), which earned McKinney the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

## Life and career

Born in Canada and raised in Minneapolis, McKinney was exposed to the Twin Cities indie scene. 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.
McKinney settled in Toronto in 1994, as an aspiring producer. McKinney was introduced to Jenny Bea Englishman – known as "Esthero" – which led him to becoming one half of the then duo. The introduction was headed up by then EMI Publishing President, Michael McCarty. After co-writing and co-producing their entire breakthrough album Breath From Another, McKinney was released from the group’s contract by Sony during their first tour and Esthero reverted back to being a solo act. She remained with Sony until 2000 when she went on to sign with Warner/Reprise. McKinney went on to produce Res – co-writing and producing her critically acclaimed album, How I Do, alongside Santi White (Santigold). McKinney has since worked with Santi White (Santigold) on various projects, including her 2008 release of her Solid Gold Mixtape.
Since then, McKinney has had the opportunity to work with Sting, Drake, Kelis, Dr. Dre, G-Love, Raphael Saadiq, Mary J. Blige, Sinéad O'Connor, Alice Smith, Amanda Blank, Trouble Andrew, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), Hawksley Workman as well as Latin artists Belinda, RBD and Debi Nova.

## Personal life

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

## Selected production discography

| 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 |
| 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 |