Sidney Royel Selby III, better known as Desiigner, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter born on May 3, 1997. He gained fame with his breakout single, “Panda” (2015), which topped the Billboard Hot 100. The viral success of the song led to Desiigner signing with Kanye West’s GOOD Music under Def Jam Recordings in 2016.
Desiigner started his music journey using the stage names Dezolo and Designer Royel before shortening it to Desiigner, a suggestion from his sister. His first track, “Zombie Walk”, was released in late 2015. Shortly after, he released “Panda”, which became a massive hit. Kanye West even featured it in his song “Pt. 2” on The Life of Pablo. This success pushed Desiigner into the spotlight, leading to performances at SXSW and collaborations with major artists on songs like “Champions”.
In 2016, Desiigner released “Tiimmy Turner,” his follow-up single, which reached the Billboard Top 40. The same year, he dropped his first mixtape, New English, and appeared on XXL’s Freshman Class list. Despite his early success, critics often labeled him a one-hit wonder due to the massive gap between Panda and his subsequent work. His 2018 EP, L.O.D., peaked at 161 on the Billboard 200 but marked his last major-label release.
Desiigner left GOOD Music in 2019, citing personal struggles, including his father’s health issues. He later started his own label, LOD Records, and released singles like “Diva” independently. After a brief hiatus following the death of Migos’ Takeoff in 2022, Desiigner returned with “My Brodie.”
Although his early success set high expectations, Desiigner's career reflects moments of promise alongside challenges, leaving his long-term legacy open for evolution.
