Album Notes

“The True Freestyle King.” XXL Magzine, November 2003.

“D.O. represents the new breed [of MC’s] putting heat on the status quo of the rap game."
- Chuck D of Revolutionary Hip-Hop Group Public Enemy, www.publicenemy.com

D.O. aka Defy the Odds

Not too many MC’s can say they have made history.

On July 5th, 2003, D.O. made Hip-Hop history by establishing the Guinness World Record for World’s Longest Freestyle Ever rapping a breathtaking 8 hours and 45 minutes.

The record feat garnered an abundance of attention in the global hip-hop community, including an article in industry leading XXL magazine, interviews on MTV and MuchMusic, and features on Daveyd.com, Hiphopdx.com, Allhiphop.com, and Hiphopcanada.com, amongst others.

With family roots in Nova Scotia, D.O. spent his youth moving around towns and cities throughout Canada before settling in Toronto. But following the world record setting rhyme, D.O. decided to take his show on the road. He headed south of the border to cities such as Boston, Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago, performing and selling CD’s out of his trunk.

As a result, D.O. quickly sold out two pressings of the EP Rhyme Til I Can’t Rhyme No Mo.

But it was a trip to the Source Awards in Miami that let D.O. know he was on the right path.
Following a chance meeting with Hip-Hop Icon D.M.C. of famed group Run D.M.C. , D.O. recognized the impact of his record.

“He couldn’t believe it, [that someone could rap that long], until we showed him the XXL. He said it was unbelievable - the craziest thing he’s ever heard!”

“That’s when I knew I had to go to New York,” adds D.O.

The birthplace and landmark of hip-hop culture, many come to New York with high hopes and leave with their dreams shattered. Fortunately for D.O., a glimpse of success came quickly.

Within the first twenty-four hours in New York, D.O. was conducting an interview on MTV in the morning and in the offices of major record labels in the afternoon drawing significant interest.

After a couple of productive months of networking the scene, D.O. says, “I knew I could have stayed, but I also realized I now had the resources to make something happen up North. I came back up here revitalized. I knew I what I had to do.”

D.O. made his next power move in the first half of 2004 by aggressively touring throughout schools with his Stay Driven program. A former teacher, D.O.’s message to youth is that setting goals and persevering is the key to success.

”You can’t just wake up the next morning and freestyle for nine hours. I had to set goals and train like Rocky in order to achieve that goal. And that was just the first step for me - you’ve got to keep your eyes on the prize.”

Combining live performances, freestyling and speaking, D.O.’s 40 school tour was a great success. In the three years of the Stay Driven program, D.O. has reached over 50,000 students!

In 2006, D.O. looks forward to releasing his album The Northstarr. Featuring production from Slakah the Beatchild (Arabesque, Choclair) and Tonemason (Rochester, Talib Kweli, The Game) D.O. looks forward to releasing his album in the third quarter of 2006.