D.O.
Throughout his young 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. And, he’s just getting started!
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.
This summer, D.O. will release 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 #2 on the National College Radio Charts). The group was named as one of URB Magazine's Next 1000 in Fall 2008.
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.
Web: www.doyall.com
Web: www.myspace.com/ddoto
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