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Carlos McKinney | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Los Da Mystro, LOS |
| Born | (1973-01-10)January 10, 1973 (age 52) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B,pop,jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Radio Killa,RedZone |
Carlos McKinney (born January 10, 1973), known professionally asLos Da Mystro, is an American record producer andjazz pianist.[1] He was signed toThe-Dream'sRadio Killa Records andTricky Stewart'sRedZone Entertainment as in-house production talent.[2]
McKinney was born into a Detroitjazz family. He is the nephew to pianist Harold McKinney, bassist Ray McKinney, trombonist Bernard McKinney (Kiane Zawadi), and drummers Earl McKinney and Walter Harris. He is a cousin to drummer Ali Jackson and trumpeter Khalil Jackson. His mother, Carolyn McKinney, is a singer, and his sister Shani McKinney is a pianist. His younger sisterThema "Tayma Loren" McKinney is a solo vocalist.
McKinney began studying piano at age four with his uncle Harold. His first professional appearances was[citation needed] with theR&B group Identity Band when he was 12. He studied classical music at the Center for Creative Studies from 1983 to 1991. He also studied harp underPatricia Terry-Ross of theDetroit Symphony Orchestra. After studying with Harold and Ray McKinney andMarcus Belgrave, he played with the Legacy Quintet (1989–93) and then attendedThe New School in New York City (1991–95). He played withWinard Harper (1992–93),Antonio Hart (1992–95),Buster Williams (1993),Wallace Roney (1994–96),Sonny Rollins,Elvin Jones,Steve Turre,Branford Marsalis,Wynton Marsalis,Roy Hargrove,Kenny Garrett andCharnett Moffett. He has played jazz festivals in Europe (from 1992), Senegal (1994), Iceland (1995), and Turkey (1997). His first album as a bandleader wasUp-Front (Sirocco Jazz, 2000)
McKinney has worked as an arranger and record producer. He was assistant composer toJames Mtume for the TV showNew York Undercover from 1995.[3] After brief stints withJ andAtlantic Records, he received a contract fromDef Jam Recordings, where he worked with musicians such asCase, Keithian,Ciara,Mariah Carey,Whitney Houston,Montell Jordan, Kandace Love,Babyface, andRedman.
He later joinedRedZone Entertainment in 2008, though which he began producing forThe-Dream,Bobby Valentino, andJamie Foxx. The success of his first major hit,J. Holiday's "Bed", led him to work on other hit songs such as "Shawty Is a 10" by the-Dream and "I Invented Sex" byTrey Songz featuringDrake throughout 2009.
In 2013, he won aGrammy Award for his credits and production on the albumUnapologetic by Rihanna.
In 2018, McKinney started working with The-Dream forRadio Killa Records's artist Bria Jhane on her debut albumWhat is Love?.
In early 2019, McKinney co-produced (withHitmaka)Chris Brown's song "Sorry Enough", from Brown's ninth albumIndigo. The album has been certifiedtriple platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 3,000,000 units in the United States.[4]
WithThe-Dream
With others
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Artist | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Rap | US Pop | UK | CAN | NZ | ||||
| 2002 | "Relax Your Mind"(featuringFaith Evans) | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | Boyz II Men | Full Circle |
| "Episode"(featuring Shells) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lyric | Lyric | |
| 2003 | "Hot & Tipsy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "Bed" | 5 | 1 | — | 26 | 32 | 92 | 11 | J. Holiday | Back of My Lac' |
| "Shawty Is a 10"(featuringFabolous) | 17 | 6 | — | 45 | — | — | 36 | The-Dream | Love Hate | |
| 2008 | "Can't Find the Words" | — | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | Karina Pasian | First Love |
| "Trading Places" | 45 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | Usher | Here I Stand | |
| 2009 | "Hands on Me" | — | 88 | 56 | — | — | — | — | Bobby Valentino | The Rebirth |
| "Rockin' That Shit" | 22 | 2 | — | 50 | — | — | — | The-Dream | Love vs. Money | |
| "Walkin' on the Moon"(featuringKanye West) | 87 | 38 | — | 74 | — | — | — | |||
| "My Love"(featuringMariah Carey) | 82 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "I Invented Sex"(featuringDrake) | 42 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Trey Songz | Ready | |
| 2010 | "Love King" | 92 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | The-Dream | Love King |
| 2017 | "Summer Body"(featuringFabolous) | — | — | — | — | — | The-Dream | Love Affair | ||
| 2018 | "Text Back" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bria Jhane | TBD |
| "Fragile" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bria Jhane | TBD | |
| "Bedroom Calling"(featuringThe-Dream) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Chromeo | Head over Heels | |
| 2021 | "Automatic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TeeFlii | Today |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
