Desiigner Bio
Sidney Royel Selby III (born May 3, 1997), known professionally as Desiigner, is an American rapper and singer from Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his 2015 debut single “Panda,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. After the song went viral, he signed with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings, and later released additional singles, a mixtape, and an EP before parting ways with both labels in 2019. He is also recognized as the grandson of blues musician Sidney “Guitar Crusher” Selby.
Working in the trap and mumble rap styles, Desiigner built a reputation in the mid-2010s as one of the most talked-about new voices in hip hop. He is occasionally referred to as Dezol and Designer Royel, two earlier stage names that he used before settling on Desiigner. Over the course of his career, he has performed at major events, appeared on national television, and collaborated with international acts.
Early Life and Background
Sidney Royel Selby III was born on May 3, 1997, in Brooklyn, New York City. He is of Afro-Barbadian and African American descent and grew up in the Louis Armstrong housing projects in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. His grandfather, Sidney “Guitar Crusher” Selby, was a respected blues musician, and music has long been part of his family background. This family connection to performance gave him early exposure to rhythm, stage presence, and the traditions of American popular music.
As a youth, Desiigner began singing in his school choir and at his local church, where he developed his vocal style. He started pursuing music seriously around the age of 14, performing wherever he could and writing his own lyrics. The combination of his church upbringing, his Brooklyn roots, and the influence of Southern trap music helped shape the sound that would later define his professional work.
Path to Rap
Before adopting the name Desiigner, the young artist first performed under the nickname Dezolo and later as Designer Royel, combining the word “Designer” with his middle name “Royel.” His sister Sierra encouraged him to shorten the name, and he kept the “Designer” portion while doubling the letter “I” to create his current stage name. This rebranding marked a turning point in his early artistic identity.
On December 3, 2015, he released his debut track, “Zombie Walk,” produced by The Shell God. Just over a week later, on December 15, 2015, he released “Panda” on SoundCloud. The song quickly went viral, was uploaded to iTunes five days after its release, and was re-released as his commercial debut single in February 2016. The track’s success introduced him to a national audience and opened the door to a record deal with one of hip hop’s most prominent labels.
Desiigner Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Desiigner’s professional career effectively began in late 2015 with the release of “Panda,” a song that changed his life almost overnight. On February 11, 2016, he signed a recording contract with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, a label distributed through Def Jam Recordings. The same month, he appeared on two songs from Kanye West’s seventh album, The Life of Pablo: “Pt. 2,” which interpolated “Panda,” and “Freestyle 4.” These early collaborations placed him alongside established stars and introduced his sound to a wider audience.
His momentum continued throughout 2016. In March, he was invited to perform at the South by Southwest music festival, and in June, he was named to XXL’s annual “Freshmen Class” alongside nine other new artists. That same month, he made his United States television debut at the 2016 BET Awards, performing “Panda” for a national audience. He also appeared on “Champions,” the lead single from GOOD Music’s ultimately shelved compilation album, Cruel Winter, alongside Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, and Quavo.
Breakthrough (2016–2018)
The release of his first full-length mixtape, New English, arrived on June 26, 2016, after a live premiere on June 22. The project marked his debut as a headlining artist on streaming platforms. Later that summer, American singer Demi Lovato brought him out as a guest during a concert in New York, signaling his crossover appeal beyond the hip hop audience. On July 21, 2016, he premiered the follow-up single “Tiimmy Turner,” which was released on iTunes the next day and peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Producer Mike Dean was announced in May 2016 as the executive producer for Desiigner’s then-planned debut studio album, The Life of Desiigner, though the project was never released. In November 2017, he collaborated with South Korean group BTS and producer Steve Aoki on a remix of “Mic Drop,” which expanded his international profile. On May 4, 2018, he released his debut EP, L.O.D., which peaked at number 161 on the Billboard 200 and became his second and final project released through a major label.
Notable Works and Milestones
Desiigner’s signature song remains “Panda,” the 2015 single that topped the Billboard Hot 100 and served as his calling card. His follow-up single “Tiimmy Turner” and his mixtape New English further established his presence on charts and streaming services. His EP L.O.D. capped his major-label era, while later independent releases on his own label, LOD Records, demonstrated his continued dedication to his craft.
Desiigner Personal Life
In a 2022 interview with VladTV, Desiigner explained that he parted ways with GOOD Music in 2019 while navigating personal challenges, including mental health struggles and his father being in a coma. He said he attempted to contact Kanye West and his labelmates for guidance but did not receive a response. On the morning of November 1, 2022, he announced on Instagram Live that he was “done rapping” after learning of the death of Migos rapper Takeoff in Houston, Texas. He later reversed course, returning on November 26, 2022, with the song “My Brodie” and an accompanying music video.
Desiigner has one child, according to publicly available biographical records. He was also arrested in New York City on September 8, 2016, following a 911 call about a firearm incident; his felony gun charge was dropped two days later, and he was cleared of the remaining charges on September 12, 2016, after the pills in the vehicle were identified as anabolic steroids belonging to his driver. In April 2023, he was charged with indecent exposure after an incident on a Delta Air Lines flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis; he later posted a public apology and stated that he planned to enter a mental health treatment facility.