Hip-hop has been making a big deal about new G.O.O.D. Music signee Desiigner with his monster hit, “Panda.” His rise to fame has been rapid. You can’t turn on the radio or go to a party without hearing, “I got broads in Atlanta…” Desiigner was elevated to success when the track was used by Kanye West. Lo and behold, this week he has now become the first rapper since 2009 to top the Billboard charts with the song, knocking off Rihanna’s “Work”. Last time this happened, Jay Z got to number one with “Empire State of Mind.”
One minute he was an 18 year-old with musical ambition, next his dreams are coming true, but who is Desiigner?
Desiigner or Sidney is a New York native
Desiinger, also known as Sidney Royel Selby III was born and brought up in Bedford-Stuyvestant, Brooklyn, New York. The rapper has chosen to move away from a typical NY hip-hop sound that might be expected from his roots, aligning more with trap. As a child, Desiigner used to sing at church as a young boy before turning to rap.
He’s raised a few eyebrows
Desiigner’s vocals have constantly been compared to Future since he bursted onto the scene. Recently, produceder Jermaine Dupri tweeted his belief that “Panda” appeared to be very similar to Future’s track “Commas,” “This Panda beat is the exact same beat as Commas, wow!” The longevity of his career has also been by doubted by 50 Cent.
Future has indirectly addressed the comparisons on a few occasions. In February, performing at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, Future said, “I’ma let y’all n****s know, it’s only one Future in this motherf**ker and I’m really the plug, really.” Nevertheless, Desiigner has been gracious regarding the associations but has definitely played up to it with subtle digs, such as releasing a track called “Pluto” last month.
Desiigner has some famous fans
The young rapper has made good friends with some hip-hop heavyweights, the biggest of course being Kanye West. Yeezy featured Desiigner on his track, “Freestyle 4” and “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 2” sampling “Panda” all on The Life of Pablo West album. West took such a liking to him that he was signed to G.O.O.D. Music in February this year. According to Fader, Desiigner’s first meeting with Yeezy happened in front of LAX airport. President of G.O.O.D. Music, Pusha T has also thrown his weight behind Desiigner, bringing him out in a number of shows.
He is managed by Zana Ray
The big dog managing and raising the profile of Desiigner is Zana Ray. She also DJ’s for HOT 97 and seems to be keeping the rapper in line. According to Fader, she encouraged Desiigner to finish the rest of “Panda” which he had sat on for some time. Ray has been a crucial part to launching the rapper’s career, pushing him into new challenges.
Desiigner has music in his genes
The rapper’s grandfather, Sidney Selby, was a blues musician who toured with The Isley Brothers and The Drifters. Selby definitely seems to have been a source of inspiration in Desiigner’s new career. Talking to Billboard he said, “He was definitely a big influence on me. I wasn’t really around my grandfather as a kid. But it was just his spirit every time I saw him, you know?…It was just so strong and so powerful. But it was just that feeling every time I spoke to him, he would motivate me.”
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