Desiigner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Desiigner
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Desiigner in 2019
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sidney Royel Selby III |
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| Born | May 3, 1997 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
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| Children | 1 |
Sidney Royel Selby III (born May 3, 1997), known as Desiigner, is an American rapper and singer. He became famous for his 2015 song "Panda". This song was a huge hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart.
After "Panda" became very popular, Desiigner joined Kanye West's record label, GOOD Music. This label is part of Def Jam Recordings. He later left both labels in 2019. In July 2016, he released another song called "Tiimmy Turner". It reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even with this success, some people still call Desiigner a "one-hit wonder."
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Early Life and Music Start
Sidney Royel Selby III was born on May 3, 1997, in Brooklyn, New York City. His family has roots in Barbados and African American heritage. His grandfather, Sidney "Guitar Crusher" Selby, was a blues musician.
Desiigner grew up in the Louis Armstrong housing projects. He started singing in his school and church choirs. When he was 14, he began his journey in music.
Desiigner's Music Career
Desiigner started his music career using the name Dezolo. Later, he used Designer Royel, which included his middle name. His sister suggested he drop "Royel" and just use "Designer," adding an extra "I" to make it "Desiigner."
On December 3, 2015, he released his first song, "Zombie Walk." Then, on December 15, 2015, he put out "Panda" on SoundCloud. The song was later released for sale in February 2016.
Joining GOOD Music
On February 11, 2016, Desiigner signed with Kanye West's record label, GOOD Music. This label is part of Def Jam Recordings. That same month, Desiigner was featured on two songs from Kanye West's album, The Life of Pablo. One of these songs, "Pt. 2," used parts of his song "Panda."
In March 2016, Desiigner performed at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival. He also told Billboard that he was working on his first mixtape, called Trap History Month.
Releasing New Music
In May 2016, producer Mike Dean announced he would help produce Desiigner's first album. Desiigner later said his album would be called The Life of Desiigner. In June 2016, XXL magazine named Desiigner one of their "Freshmen Class" artists.
Also in June 2016, Desiigner was featured on the song "Champions." He performed "Panda" live on US television at the 2016 BET Awards. On June 26, 2016, he released his first full mixtape, New English.
In July 2016, Desiigner released his next single, "Tiimmy Turner." This song also made it into the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Desiigner also appeared as a special guest on the Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World. In November 2017, he was featured on a remix of the BTS song "Mic Drop," which was remixed by Steve Aoki.
On May 3, 2018, Desiigner announced his first extended play (EP), L.O.D., would be released. It came out on May 4, 2018, and reached number 161 on the Billboard 200 chart. This was his last project with a major record label. He later used the name "LOD Records" for his own independent music.
In 2022, Desiigner shared why he left GOOD Music in 2019. He said he was going through a difficult time and tried to reach out to Kanye and others for support, but did not receive it.
In November 2022, after hearing sad news about another rapper, Desiigner said on Instagram Live that he was "done rapping." However, he returned to music on November 26, releasing a song called "My Brodie" with a music video.
Desiigner's Music Style
Desiigner's music style is influenced by Southern hip hop, especially trap music. Trap music started in Atlanta, Georgia. Many people have compared his rapping and singing style to that of Atlanta rapper Future.
When asked about these comparisons, Desiigner said that both he and Future have unique talents. He respects Future's music and focuses on his own work.
Music Releases
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
Desiigner has been recognized for his music. Here are some of his awards and nominations:
- 2016:
- Teen Choice Awards: Nominated for Choice Music: R&B/Hip-Hop Song for "Panda."
- MTV Video Music Awards: Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Hip Hop Video for "Panda."
- BET Hip Hop Awards: Nominated for Best Hip Hop Video, People's Champ Award (both for "Panda"), and Best New Hip Hop Artist.
- American Music Awards: Nominated for Video of the Year and Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song for "Panda."
- WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards: Won the WatsUp TV Viewers Choice Award for "Panda."
- 2017:
- Grammy Awards: Nominated for Best Rap Performance for "Panda."
- iHeartRadio Music Awards: Nominated for Hip-Hop Song of the Year ("Panda"), Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, and Best New Hip-Hop Artist.
- Billboard Music Awards:
- Nominated for Top New Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, and Top Rap Artist.
- Won Top Streaming Song (Video) and Top Rap Song for "Panda."
See also
In Spanish: Desiigner para niños
