Duane Gibson, also known as D.O., is a two-time Guinness World Record–setting rapper, author, and university graduate who has been inspiring hundreds of thousands of youth since 2001. He has spoken at more than 3,000 schools, with presentations focused on anti-bullying, literacy, and Black Canadian history.

As a rapper, D.O.’s songs have reached #1 on the U.S. college charts. He’s had Snoop Dogg provide him with freestyle topics, and Drake appeared in one of his videos. His performances have taken him around the world to countries including Taiwan, Japan, England, France, and cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

D.O. stands for “Defy the Odds.” Growing up in small towns across Canada, few expected a young Duane Gibson to one day become a rap star.

In addition to his music career, Gibson is a proud university graduate. As an English major at York University, he graduated with Honours and earned a place on the Dean’s List with his A+ thesis, “Rap as a Continuum of African-American Linguistic Practices.” After graduating, he worked as a part-time teacher and tutor, teaching after-school English classes in Scarborough, Ontario, while also running weekend literacy programs for junior kindergarten students.

His journey as a speaker began in 2001, when he was invited to talk to a class about how he balanced being a rapper while graduating from university. Afterward, a teacher suggested he speak at her husband’s school. Within months, Gibson was fielding requests to perform and present at dozens of schools — and Stay Driven was born.

In 2003, D.O. set his sights on another milestone: a Guinness World Record. That July, he set the record by freestyling for 8 hours and 45 minutes, a feat that earned coverage on MuchMusic and MTV.

In 2024, Gibson was recognized as one of the Top 20 Outstanding Black Canadians by Shifter Magazine and received the Allie Award at the Women of Inspiration Awards. That same summer, he released “Redemption Song,” a collaboration with seven-time JUNO nominee Ammoye. The video, shot in South Africa, followed their performance at the African Music Rising Conference.

Gibson has released three books, including his most recent illustrated children’s book and companion album, “The Story of How Young Duane Gibson,” a semi-autobiographical tale of his childhood.

Over the past year, D.O. has performed more than 200 shows across Canada as part of his Black Canadian History School Tour, which included a virtual conference attended by over 100,000 youth nationwide. His work has been featured on CBC, CityTV News, Global, the Toronto Star, and he even co-hosted Entertainment Tonight Canada Live.

D.O.’s message to youth is simple but powerful: set goals, persevere, and believe in yourself. Growing up as one of the only Black children in his community, he learned early what it meant to stand out. He faced bullying, racism, and shyness — but overcame them by staying focused on his goals. His message to youth is clear: “Can’t nobody hold you down!”