D.O.

Artist Information

Biography

Throughout his career, D.O. has done it his way, using his artistic skill, creative vision and business acumen to book hundreds of shows across North America (including several cross-Canada tours) and sell thousands of CDs. That’s a quick snapshot of what D.O. (aka Defy the Odds) has brought to the Rap game.

The journey really got rolling in 2003, when D.O. set a Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap clocking in at an astounding 8 hours and 45 minutes. Following that amazing feat and the prominent media attention that went along with it, he went on the road, performing throughout Canada and south of the border to cities such as Detroit, Atlanta and New York City, selling his mixtapes out of his trunk.

D.O. released his debut full length CD, The Northstarr, in 2007, which featured the hit singles “Just Forfeit,” Young Brother,” and “Defy the Odds”. In 2008 D.O. earned a Toronto Independent Award and an Ontario Music Award nomination.

In the summer of 2009, D.O. released his sophomore album, Stay Driven, featuring production from JUNO-nominated producers Classified, Slakah the Beatchild, Marco Polo and Metty the Dert Merchant from Sweatshop Union. Key singles include “This Grind” (more than 20,000 plays on MySpace) , “Unfinished Business” and “Now I Understand” featuring Classified.

In addition to his solo projects, D.O. is a member of duo Art of Fresh, along with beatmaker and vocalist Slakah the Beatchild. The group’s hits from the album Back to Earth (2008) include “Get Free” (a summer anthem in 2007), “Out This World” (which was featured in a Volkswagen advertisement in December 2008) and “Back to the Earth” (which reached #1 on the National College Radio Charts). The group was named as one of URB Magazine's Next 1000 in Fall 2008.

Late 2011 will see D.O. release Heavy in the Game, his third full-length recording. The upcoming record features a song called "She LIkes You" that has become an instant hit with audiences worldwide, and the video for which has already been in rotation on MuchMusic.

Simply put, D.O. is an artist-entrepreneur with a creative vision and a hunger to achieve success that is matched only by his ability to deliver hot music - with a message - that will make a lasting contribution to Hip Hop’s storyline. Legendary MC Chuck D of Public Enemy says, “D.O. represents the new breed of MCs putting heat on the status quo of the rap game.”

D.O. has also been busy on the public speaking circuit in public schools across Ontario with his Stay Driven program, which he launched in 2003. The program, which is based on D.O.’s own life experiences, addresses topics such as anti-bullying, peer pressure and working at peak performance.

With seven videos that have been in rotation on MuchMusic, tens of thousands of YouTube views and MySpace plays, and features in prominent media such as MTV, Newsweek and XXL Magazine, it’s just a matter of time before D.O. is a household name.

For more info on this multi-talented lyricist, check out www.doyall.com or www.myspace.com/ddoto.

Instrumentation

D.O. - MC / rapper
Nana - DJ
Slakah the Beatchild - Singer / Rapper
Poizunus - Beatboxer / Hypeman

Discography

"Stay Driven" album - 07/2009
"The Northstarr" album - 04/2007
"Young Brother" Single - 2006 - Listed as one of top songs of 2006 on Toronto's FLOW 93.5
"Just Forfeit" Single - 2006 - Video in Rotation on Muchmusic
"Rhyme Til I Can't Rhyme No Mo" EP - 2003 - 2000 Units + Sold.
"Zone Out" - 2004 - Single - Rotation on Radio.

Links

• MySpace
• MySpace
• D.O. website

Audio

• This Grind
  Listen   Download
• Get Free
  Listen   Download
• Unfinished Business
  Listen   Download
• She Likes You
  Listen   Download
• What You Want
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Young Brother
• Bring It

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• D.O. Stay Driven Chatham [+ Show ]
  

  Toronto rapper D.O. knows words can hurt. The 28-year-old entertainer, whose given name is Duane ...Toronto rapper D.O. knows words can hurt.
  
  The 28-year-old entertainer, whose given name is Duane Gibson, shared his personal experiences of being bullied with students at Winston Churchill Public School Wednesday.
  
  The creator of the Stay Driven program, D.O. tells students about the first time someone directed a racial insult towards him when he was the new kid - and the only black kid - at an elementary school in Sault Ste. Marie.
  
  Knowing that if he fought, he'd get suspended and would give the bully the power.
  
  He decided to use rapping as an outlet.
  
  "Rapping was . . . a way to get all that aggression out in a powerful way," D.O. said.
  
  He focuses on how bullying through words can affect a person's confidence and self-esteem.
  
  D.O. gets the students to join him in singing rap songs to get the message across about positive ways to handle situations where they or their friends are being bullied.
  
  Students and staff were all encouraged to sing "let it go" as D.O. rapped about just walking away from a bully.
  
  It was apparent the students got D.O.'s message when he closed the presentation by asking what students will say to someone trying to knock them off their game.
  
  "Can't nobody hold me down," the students yelled in unison.
  
  "It was awesome," Grade 8 student Rachel Cole, 13, said of D.O.'s presentation. "He made talking about not bullying people fun."
  
  She also liked D.O.'s positive message that "if you want to achieve try your best."
  
  An aspect of the program that stood out to Grade 8 student Ryan Cartier, 13, is not empowering bullies by saying nothing when somebody else is being picked on.
  
  "Stand up for your friends," Cartier said, "and not just sit back and do nothing - at least try."
  
  Jordan Breault, 14, also took the anti-bullying message to heart.
  
  "If somebody is bullying you and saying something rude, do what D.O. says and just let it go," said the Grade 8 student.
  
  Sarah Richards, 13, believes the rapper is an inspiration.
  
  "Once you see a normal person like D.O. could become something this big, kids probably think their own dreams can come true," the Grade 8 student said.
  
  D.O. is bringing his message to D.A. Gordon and H.W. Burgess public schools in Wallaceburg today and St. Ursula and Georges P. Vanier Catholic schools in Chatham on Friday.
  

• Press Quotes [+ Show ]
  

  “Vocal style reminds me of the whisper-y quietness of later Jay-Z mixed with some of the cadence of ...“Vocal style reminds me of the whisper-y quietness of later Jay-Z mixed with some of the cadence of Talib Kweli. AND IT'S CANADIAN!”
  - 91.5 CJAM, Windsor ON
  http://cjam-music.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html
  
  “D.O. is moving audiences around Canada with his music and his mind”
  - Sean Watson, Urbanology, 03, 07
  
  “True freestyle king”
  – Amy Lindon, XXL, 11/03
  

Setlist

Set is 1 hour and includes full discography.

Basic Requirements

Calendar