D.O. Gibson
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2007 | INDIE
Music
Press
“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
- Radio, Urbanology, XXL Magazine
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.
- Chatham News
Rocking a “Misdemeanor” t-shirt each step of the way, Toronto veteran D.O. Gibson channels his inner Supa Dupa Fly with new his futuristic throwback, “Missy Elliott.” The visuals for this Statik Music-produced banger were first released in support of D.O.’s forthcoming album, Duane Gibson, dropping Tuesday, May 26.
D.O. fans will be familiar with “Missy Elliott” as it first appeared on D.O.’s 2014 mixtape, Home for the Summer. The single was coincidently released shortly before the “Work It” hit-maker joined Katy Perry on stage at Super Bowl XLIX, effectively marking her return to the music industry. In 2011, Elliott was interviewed by People magazine, and revealed that her absence from the scene was due to a hyperthyroid disorder known as Graves’ disease. After her symptoms had gotten worse, and before she had received the necessary treatment, Elliott could barely hold a pen.
The Illvibe Studios-directed video is a true nod to the big budget, high-end videos that were popular (and affordable) in the late 90’s, thanks to great releases by Elliott and other artists like Busta Rhymes and Janet Jackson.
You can catch D.O. at his album release party on Saturday, May 23 at Toronto’s Studio Bar with guest appearances from D-Sisive, Illvibe and Robbie G. Plus, music will be provided throughout the night by the one and only DJ Nana. Click the jump link below to watch the video and for the album release party flyer. - Hiphopcanada
After being inspired to record a new album by a Classified song, conscious rapper and freestyle beast D.O. (a.k.a. Defy the Odds) enlisted the Maritimes rap star to produce that album. Collaborating and recording in Classified's Enfield, Nova Scotia home studio has resulted in an ode to Nova Scotia that features the flag on the front cover and local features throughout, harnessing Classified's East Coast mix of samples and live instruments to celebrate the province. The production is catchy and most songs feature singing, often from a guest but sometimes sampled.
"Down Home" references visits to family in the Maritimes with a slick sentimental hook from Chad Hatcher — perfect for the next Tim Horton's commercial! Spesh K joins D.O. to wax poetic about friends with benefits on "Neighbourhood," and Halifax stars Mic Boyd, J-Bru, Jake Boyd and (again) Chad Hatcher contribute to songs about growing up and going for your dreams, the other main theme of the album. Maestro, Saukrates and Joell Ortiz also guest.
At only ten tracks, the album is devoid of filler and over much too fast. Another brilliant rapper-producer team up from D.O., Down Home is not just a great introduction to the rapper, but his best album to date. (Nortstarr Entertainment) - Exclaim
Discography
The Northstarr (2007) - 3000 CD's sold
Stay Driven (2009) - 3200 CD's sold
Down Home (2014) - to be released in April 2014 album produced entirely by Classified
Photos
Bio
International artist.Community involvement.Artist development.
Duane Gibson aka D.O.
has defied the odds as a rapper from Canada, becoming a certified international
artist, a successful record label executive and a socially active community
ambassador. He set a Guinness World Record when he freestyled for nearly nine
hours in 2003, sold tens of thousands of CDs, hit #1 on U.S. College Hip Hop
Radio charts and travelled the world performing for sold out crowds; D.O.s
success is defined in his own terms.
In 2014, D.O. will
release his latest project Down Home a 10 song album produced entirely by
Classified.
I have a song
called Cant Tell Me I Aint Made It, and its about how success shouldnt be
defined in terms of being only the .01% that blows up, reveals D.O. I tour
the world on a regular basis, my music is consistently critically acclaimed and
I influence hundreds of thousands of kids through my Stay Driven program. I
come from a different side of this game, but that doesnt mean I havent made
it. Then again, it also doesnt mean Im finished.
Born
in Watrous, Saskatchewan, D.O. moved to Ontario with his family at the age of
two. Growing up, he spent summers visiting his father's family in Cape Breton
and his mother's in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In 2003, XXL featured D.O. for his Guinness Record and he hit the road for
the first of many tours, selling mixtapes from his trunk in the north-eastern
U.S. Around the same time, D.O. created his school tour program, Stay
Driven, and started investigating the inner workings of the music business.
By 2007, D.O. was ready to release his debut album, Northstarr, the name
which would eventually double as his label. D.O.s music was instantly recognized
and the album was nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award. Northstarr
also kick- started a spree of radio hits that would land him on Flow 93.5s
countdown at least once every year from 2006-2010.
D.O. found success
in 2008 as one half of the duo Art of Fresh, whose music was featured in
a television ad campaign for Volkswagen. The duo struck again in 2010
when their song Get Free was featured in a television ad campaign for
Orville Redenbacher Popcorn. Later that year they released their sophomore album,
When The Night Comes In, with the breakout single Out Of This World
soaring to #1 on the U.S. College Hip-Hop Radio Charts. They reached
international audiences with performances at the CMJ music festival in New York
and MIDEM in Cannes France. In the last two years, the group has toured Canada
twice, Europe (France, UK, Netherlands), Asia (Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong) and
the US (Miami, NYC, Vegas). Throughout
this string of releases and constant domestic and international touring, D.O.
also found time to build Northstarr Ent and established himself as a go to
music executive for independent artists. Northstarr has represented up to 15
artists worldwide.
Somewhere between
Tupac (in terms of social consciousness), Common (in terms of artistic integrity)
and Jay-Z (in terms of business sense), stands D.O., a man who is bounded only
by the hours in a day
Legendary MC Chuck
D of Public Enemy said of the artist, D.O. represents the new breed
of MCs putting heat on the status quo of the rap game.
Band Members
Links
