Desiigner
{{Short description|American rapper and singer (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Desiigner
| image = Desiigner in November 2019.jpg
| caption = Desiigner in 2019
| birth_name = Sidney Royel Selby III
| alias = {{hlist|Dezol|Designer Royel}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|05|03}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupations = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
}}
| discography = Desiigner discography
| years_active = 2015–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
{{Infobox person
| child = yes
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|lifeofdesiigner.com}}
}}
}}
Sidney Royel Selby III (born May 3, 1997), better known by his stage name Desiigner, is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his 2015 debut single "Panda", which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Shortly after the song gained viral status online, he signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. Without releasing a debut studio album, he parted ways with both labels in 2019.
In July 2016, he released the follow-up single "Tiimmy Turner", which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite this, Desiigner is frequently described as a one-hit wonder.{{cite web|url=https://junkee.com/one-hit-wonders-decade/231537|title=Gone But Not Forgotten: The Biggest One-Hit Wonders Of The Decade|website=Junkee.com|last=Jolly|first=Nathan|access-date=July 5, 2020|date=November 22, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/top-selling-music-singles-from-one-hit-wonders-all-time-2019-6|title=The 11 top-selling music singles from one-hit wonders of all time, from Gotye to the 'Macarena'|website=Businessinsider.com|last=McAlone|first=Nathan|access-date=July 5, 2020|date=June 26, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/most-popular-one-hit-wonders-history-2019-5#2016-panda-by-desiigner-62|title=The most popular one-hit wonder every year since 1955|website=Insider.com|last=Shaw|first=Gabbi|access-date=July 5, 2020|date=September 26, 2019}}
Early life
Sidney Royel Selby III was born on May 3, 1997,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7341870/desiigner-panda-billboard-hot-100-number-1 | title=Desiigner's 'Panda' Claws to No. 1 on Hot 100, Bringing Americans Back to the Top | magazine=Billboard | date=April 25, 2016 | access-date=April 26, 2016 | last=Trust | first=Gary | quote=Desiigner is 18 years and 11 months old; he'll turn 19 on May 3.}} in Brooklyn, New York City.{{cite web| url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/desiigner-panda/ |title=The New Wave: Desiigner – "Panda"|date=February 9, 2016|work=Pigeons & Planes}}{{cite web |url= http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/02/the-break-presents-desiigner/ |title=The Break Presents: Desiigner |date=February 19, 2016 |work=XXL Mag}} He is of Afro-Barbadian and African American descent,{{cite web|url=http://wwd.com/eye/people/panda-desiigner-rapper-interview-10431787/|title=Meet Desiigner: The Elusive and Kanye West-Mentored Rapper|first=Aria|last=Hughes|website=Wwd.com|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=May 13, 2017}} and is the grandson of blues musician Sidney "Guitar Crusher" Selby. He grew up in the Louis Armstrong housing projects in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7400285/desiigner-on-panda-difficult-past-kanye-west-advice|title=Desiigner on His Difficult Past and How His No. 1 Hit 'Panda' Gave Him a Way Out|magazine=Billboard|date=June 9, 2016}} He began practicing vocals at school choir and church. At the age of 14, he embarked on his musical career.{{cite web |url= http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-desiigner-news.20299.html?gallery=1 |title=Everything You Need To Know About Desiigner |website=HotNewHipHop.com |date=February 22, 2016 |access-date=April 26, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YXCsqOFi20|title=Desiigner Freestyle and talks Panda & Kanye|via=YouTube|date=May 3, 2016|access-date=May 24, 2016}}
Career
Desiigner embarked on his music career under his original nickname Dezolo,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/desiigner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508011423/http://www.mtv.com/artists/desiigner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2016|title=Desiigner – Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates – MTV|website=MTV|access-date=July 1, 2016}} before he began releasing his work under the alias of Designer Royel, especially with Royel (his middle name). His sister convinced him to drop the "Royel" part and then keep the "Designer" part as his new stage name, doubling the "I"{{'s}}. On December 3, 2015, under his new pseudonym, Desiigner released his debut track, called "Zombie Walk". The song was produced by The Shell God.{{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz8MzFisPnM |title= Desiigner Ft. King Savage- "Zombie Walk" (Prod. By: @TheShellGod) |date=December 3, 2015|via=YouTube}} On December 15, 2015, Desiigner released another single, "Panda" on SoundCloud.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsJLLEwUYZM|title=Desiigner- Panda (OFFICIAL SONG) Prod. By: Menace|date=December 20, 2015|via=YouTube}} The song released on iTunes five days later, before being re-released as his commercial debut single in February 2016.{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/panda-single/1088507971 | title=Panda – Single | work=iTunes Store (US) | date=February 26, 2016 | access-date=April 18, 2016}} On February 11, 2016, Desiigner signed a recording contract with Kanye West's record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/brooklyn-rapper-desiigner-signs-to-good-music-news.20126.html|title=Brooklyn Rapper Desiigner Signs To G.O.O.D. Music|author=Danny Schwartz|date=February 11, 2016|work=HotNewHipHop}} In the same month, Desiigner appeared on two songs by West — "Pt. 2" (which features an interpolation of "Panda") and "Freestyle 4" — from his seventh album The Life of Pablo. The following month, Desiigner was enlisted to perform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/03/desiigner-courts-more-future-comparisons-debuts-new-song-pluto-at-sxsw|title=Desiigner : Courts More Future Comparisons, Debuts New Song "Pluto at SXSW|website=Complex.com|author=Chris Mench|date=March 16, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://hypetrak.com/2016/03/desiigner-pluto-panda-sxsw/|title=Desiigner Debuts New Song "Pluto" & Performs "Panda" at SXSW|date=July 26, 2023 }} In an interview with Billboard, Desiigner confirmed the release of his first upcoming mixtape, titled Trap History Month''.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7326380/panda-rapper-desiigner-on-working-with-kanye-west-panda-hit-single-upcoming-music | title='Panda' Rapper Desiigner on Why His Mind Operates in a 'Crazy' Way and Working With Kanye West | magazine=Billboard | date=April 12, 2016 | access-date=April 17, 2016 | author=Peltz, Jonathan}}
On May 5, 2016, producer Mike Dean announced that he would be serving as the executive producer for Desiigner's upcoming debut studio album.{{cite magazine |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7356874/producer-mike-dean-lemonade-beyonce-kanye-west-desiigner |title='Lemonade' Producer Mike Dean Gives the Behind-the-Scenes Scoop on Beyoncé's Opus |author= J. Pablo Caraballo |date=May 6, 2016 |magazine=Billboard}} On May 24, Desiigner later announced that the title to his upcoming debut album would be called The Life of Desiigner.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38947/title.desiigner-announces-life-of-desiigner-album|title=Desiigner Announces "Life Of Desiigner" Album|website=HipHopDX.com |date=May 24, 2016|access-date=July 1, 2016}} In June 2016, XXL revealed their annual "Freshmen Class" for 2016, and Desiigner was included on the list with nine other new artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/06/xxl-freshman-class-cover-2016/|title=2016 XXL Freshman Class Cover – XXL|date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=July 1, 2016}} In June 2016, "Champions" was released as the lead single from the GOOD Music's ultimately shelved compilation album, Cruel Winter. Desiigner made a guest appearance on the song along with West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, and Quavo.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/06/kanye-west-premieres-new-single-with-gucci-mane-travis-scott-and-more-off-cruel-winter/|title=Kanye West premieres new single with Gucci Mane, Travis Scott and more off Cruel Winter |date=June 3, 2016 |publisher=XXL|access-date=July 10, 2016}} In the same month, Desiigner made his US television debut, when he performed his single, "Panda" at the 2016 BET Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2016/performances/desiigner-performs-panda.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628221911/http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2016/performances/desiigner-performs-panda.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2016|title=Desiigner Performs 'Panda' and Turns Up the BET Awards |website=BET |access-date=July 1, 2016}} On June 26, 2016, Desiigner released his first full-length mixtape, titled New English on Tidal, following a live premiere of the mixtape on June 22.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/06/desiigner-pusha-t-new-english-mixtape-listening/|title=Desiigner Plays New Song Featuring Pusha T at 'New English' Mixtape Listening Party|date=June 22, 2016|work=XXL}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/06/desiigner-new-project-stream-new-english|title=Listen to Desiigner's 'New English' Mixtape|date=June 26, 2016|work=Complex}} In July 2016, American singer Demi Lovato brought out Desiigner at their concert in New York.{{cite magazine |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7431211/demi-lovato-nick-jonas-brooklyn-future-now-concert-review |title=Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas Bring the 'Future' of Pop Music to Brooklyn|magazine=Billboard|date=July 9, 2016}} On July 21, 2016, Desiigner premiered his follow up single, "Tiimmy Turner", which was released as a single on iTunes the next day. The song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/tiimmy-turner-single/1445047140|title=Tiimmy Turner – Single by Desiigner on Apple Music|website=iTunes|date=July 22, 2016}} Desiigner appeared as a special guest on the Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World. On November 7, 2017, it was reported that BTS would release a remix of their song "Mic Drop" featuring Desiigner and remixed by Steve Aoki. It was set to be released on November 17, 2017, but was postponed and released on November 24, 2017, instead.
On May 3, 2018, Desiigner announced on social media that his debut extended play (EP), L.O.D., would be released at midnight on May 4, 2018. Upon release, it peaked at number 161 on the Billboard 200 and became his second and final project on a major label.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/5/desiigner-lod-release-date|title=Desiigner Announces 'L.O.D.' Release Date|date=May 3, 2018|access-date=May 3, 2018}} The EP's namesake was utilized for his own label, LOD Records, through which he released his 2020 single, "Diva" independently.{{Cite web|url = https://music.apple.com/us/album/diva-single/1501234085|title = Diva – Single by Desiigner|date = March 6, 2020|access-date = March 12, 2020|archive-date = April 4, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230404114441/https://music.apple.com/us/album/diva-single/1501234085|url-status = dead}}
In a 2022 interview with VladTV, Desiigner explained why he left GOOD Music in 2019, saying he was "going through a little mental thing" including his father having been comatose, and had tried to contact Kanye and his other labelmates for guidance but didn't receive any.{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=September 10, 2022 |title=Desiigner Explains Why He Parted Ways With Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music |work=HotNewHipHop |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/desiigner-explains-why-he-parted-ways-with-kanye-west-s-good-music-news.157678.html |access-date=September 11, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Jefferson |first=Devon |date=September 10, 2022 |title=Desiigner Explains Why He Really Left Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music |work=HipHopDX |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.73315/title.desiigner-kanye-west-good-music-decision-to-leave# |access-date=September 11, 2022}}
On the morning of November 1, 2022, Desiigner went to Instagram Live saying "I'm done rapping," after hearing the news of Migos rapper Takeoff's death from a shooting in Houston, Texas, that same morning.{{Cite web |last=II |first=C. Vernon Coleman IIC Vernon Coleman |title=Desiigner Breaks Down in Tears After Takeoff's Death, Says He's Done With Rap |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/desiigner-cries-instagram-live-takeoff-death/ |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=XXL Mag |date=November 2022 |language=en}} However, he returned to doing so on November 26 when he released the song "My Brodie", accompanied with a music video.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/602608-desiigner-keeps-the-new-releases-coming-with-my-brodie-single|title=Desiigner Keeps The New Releases Coming With "My Brodie" Single|first=Hayley|last=Hynes|date=November 26, 2022|website=HotNewHipHop.com}}
Legal issues
On September 8, 2016, Desiigner and three other people were arrested in New York City, after a 911 caller claimed that he pulled a gun on them. Desiigner was later found in an SUV with four other people and the vehicle was searched. The police allegedly found oxycodone and guns, for which he and the other individuals received drug and weapon charges. They were all detained in custody.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/desiigner-arrested-gun-drugs-menacing-midtown-driver-article-1.2784606|title=Desiigner charged in gun-pointing road rage incident in Midtown|website=New York Daily News|date=September 10, 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2016/09/09/desiigner-arrested-drugs-sell/|title=Desiigner -- Arrested for Drugs, Intent to Sell and Loaded Gun (UPDATED PHOTOS + VIDEO)|date=September 9, 2016|website=Tmz.com}} On September 10, 2016, his felony gun charge was dropped by prosecutors.{{cite web |url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/09/desiigner-felony-gun-charge-dropped/ |title=Desiigner acquitted of gun charge |last=Augustin |first=Camille |date=September 10, 2016 |website=Vibe |access-date=September 10, 2016}} He was cleared of the charges on September 12, 2016, when it was found that the pills were anabolic steroids belonging to his driver.{{cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/09/desiigner-steroids-not-oxycontin/ |title=Drugs found in desiigner's car were steroids |last=Simmons |first=Ted |date=September 12, 2016 |website=XXL |access-date=September 12, 2016}}
In April 2023, Desiigner was charged with indecent exposure after allegedly being caught on a Delta Air Lines flight masturbating in front of flight attendants while travelling from Tokyo to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He later posted an apology on social media for the incident and claimed he would be checking himself into a facility for mental health treatment.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/24/desiigner-charged-with-indecent-exposure-after-masturbating-on-plane-18667203/|title=Rapper Desiigner 'charged with indecent exposure after revealing himself and masturbating on a plane'|website=Metro.co.uk|last=Bashforth|first=Emily|date=25 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/desiigner-alleged-indecent-exposure-plane|title=Desiigner Charged With Indecent Exposure After Allegedly Masturbating on Plane|website=Complex.com|last=Price|first=Joe|date=25 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/desiigner-indicent-exposure-plane-delta-b2326001.html|title=Desiigner charged with indecent exposure after plane incident|website=Independent.co.uk|last=Murray|first=Tom|date=25 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}}
Musical style
Desiigner's musical style is influenced by Southern hip hop, namely trap music which originated in Atlanta, Georgia. His rapping technique and vocals have been heavily compared to that of Atlanta-based rapper Future. When asked about the frequent comparisons, he told Complex: "God gave him a blessing, but he gave me a blessing too. I ain't gonna doubt the man's music. He makes beautiful music too. Music is made every day. Big ups to him, big ups to Future. I actually like Future's music. I like his music, you feel me. I'm not a hater or a critic on him, you know, I do me. God bless him, God bless me."{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/desiigner-talks-about-the-success-of-panda-and-the-comparisons-to-future|title=Interview: Desiigner Talks About the Success of "Panda" and Comparisons to Future|work=Complex|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=March 29, 2016}}
Discography
{{Main|Desiigner discography}}
=Mixtapes=
- New English (2016)
=EPs=
- L.O.D. (2018)
- Diamonds Forever (2020)
- 3 the Hard Way (2021)
- Rebirth (2024)
- Be Me (2025)
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{cc}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{allmusic}}
- {{discogs artist}}
{{Desiigner}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century African-American male singers
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American hip-hop singers
Category:American people of Barbadian descent
Category:Def Jam Recordings artists
Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians
Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists
Category:Rappers from Brooklyn
Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)