Duane “D.O.” Gibson Announces New Children’s Book and Album: The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven
Acclaimed rapper, author, and motivational speaker Duane “D.O.” Gibson is inspiring the next generation with his illustrated children’s book The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven and its accompanying 15-track album, out now via Believe Digital.
Blending engaging beats, catchy hooks, and uplifting messages, the album delivers relatable life lessons kids will love, while the heartwarming book follows young Duane’s journey of resilience, self-expression, and triumph over bullying through rap.
With a career spanning Guinness World Records, sold-out tours, and a commitment to empowering youth through literacy and anti-bullying, Gibson’s latest works celebrate creativity, perseverance, and the power of staying driven.
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First off, how have you been since we last spoke?
Ah life is good! I’ve been busy travelling. I went to Montreal to shoot a video for one of the singles on the new album and then I was in Amsterdam to attend Amsterdam Dance Event. Now I’m just getting ready for a tour in British Columbia – so yes, very busy!
Your new children’s album, The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven, will be released soon. What inspired you to create a children’s album, and how does it differ from your previous work?
I realized that I’ve been doing children’s music for over twenty years. I never thought of it like that, but because I perform in schools so much and often in front of young children, I felt like this was an extension of what I’ve been doing the majority of my career. When I dove into the project, I liked how the subject matter is different from my normal work. It’s almost like an alter-ego because I was rapping from the perspective of “Young Duane” instead of “D.O.” – a more regular and refined Hip-Hop style.
Can you talk about the key messages in the album and the book? What do you hope young listeners and readers take away from your story?
The key messages are to dream big, visualize, and work daily to achieve your goals. I talk about the nervous excitement of the first day of school, and how dealing with adversity including bullying. I hope that listeners are able to relate to the story and I also hope that it is something that parents can play in the car for their kids and not have to watch for any swearing or inappropriate language.
Why was it important for you to pair the album with a children’s book, and how do the two complement each other?
I thought it would be cool to have a “soundtrack” to the book so that youth can listen to the same themes I’m discussing. One of my favourite things is to receive messages from parents on Instagram telling me how their child came home and told them about Viola Desmond being on the ten-dollar bill, or my life story. So I think that with the book and the album, this is a great way to reinforce that message.
The book is based on your own life story. What personal experiences from your childhood shaped the themes in The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven?
The book deals with me moving to a new town when I was twelve years old. That is such a pivotal point in life. When I visit schools, I always ask the audience “How many people have moved?” and nearly half of the hands go up. I think that moving and attending a new school, leaving behind friends, having to make new ones, etc, are universally relatable. I also talk about what it’s like to feel like you are different. It doesn’t matter if it’s because of your race, religion, or body size – I think that is relatable as well.
How did you work with Omito Beats to bring this album to life? What was the production process like?
The connection was instant! I had been looking for a producer to bring the project to life and when I found his beats I was amazed at how much they fit the exact style that I was looking for. So instead of reaching out to multiple producers, I decided to just stick with him. I really appreciated the varied style in his beats and how they fit the children’s flow and theme.
You’ve explored so many different areas – from music to writing to public speaking. Is there another creative or personal challenge you’re eager to take on next?
Politics? Just kidding. But seriously, I just like the ability to evolve and continue to make music twenty-plus years into my career. One of my biggest goals is to perform in every continent and the only one left I have is Australia so I look forward to heading there in the next few years.
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