Whatever Happened To Desiigner, The Rapper Behind the Massive Hit “Panda”?

#NOLAZINE - There was a moment in 2016 when it seemed almost impossible to escape Desiigner’s breakout record “Panda.” The Brooklyn rapper went from being relatively unknown to having the No. 1 song in America, signing with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music and becoming one of hip-hop’s most talked-about newcomers.

But after such an explosive introduction, Desiigner seemingly disappeared from the mainstream spotlight. So, whatever happened to the rapper behind “Panda”?

“Panda” Changed Everything

Born Sidney Royel Selby III, Desiigner was still a teenager when “Panda” transformed his career. The song originally began with a beat reportedly purchased online for just $200. Apple Music - Web Player

The record exploded after Kanye West incorporated “Panda” into “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2” from his 2016 album The Life of Pablo. Desiigner also appeared on West’s “Freestyle 4,” and in February 2016 his signing to G.O.O.D. Music was announced. The FADER

Then came something few new rappers ever accomplish.

“Panda” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing Rihanna and Drake’s “Work.” It remained at No. 1 for two weeks and spent 17 weeks inside the Top 10. Wikipedia

Desiigner suddenly had one of the biggest songs in the country.

He Was More Than Just “Panda”

While “Panda” remains the song most associated with Desiigner, it wasn't his only record to find chart success.

His follow-up single “Tiimmy Turner” reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Desiigner also became part of XXL’s celebrated 2016 Freshman Class and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance for “Panda.” Apple Music - Web Player

That same year, he released the mixtape New English, which reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200. He later appeared on a version of Steve Aoki’s remix of BTS’ “MIC Drop.” Apple Music - Web Player

The difficult part was maintaining the extraordinary momentum created by “Panda.”

Desiigner and G.O.O.D. Music Eventually Separated

Desiigner released the L.O.D. project in 2018, which Apple Music describes as his final G.O.O.D. Music project. He subsequently left the label and began releasing music through his own LOD Records. Apple Music - Web Player

Without the same level of mainstream attention surrounding his releases, Desiigner gradually became less visible to casual hip-hop listeners.

That didn't mean he stopped making music.

He continued releasing records independently, including projects and singles under the LOD banner. But replicating a phenomenon as massive as “Panda” proved difficult.

A 2023 Incident Became Another Turning Point

Desiigner made headlines for reasons unrelated to music in April 2023.

Federal prosecutors charged him with indecent exposure following an incident aboard a Delta flight traveling from Tokyo to Minneapolis. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he exposed himself multiple times during the flight. Department of Justice

He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense and received probation and community service. Star Tribune

Where Is Desiigner Now?

Desiigner never completely disappeared from music. Instead, his career moved away from the major-label spotlight that surrounded him during the height of “Panda.” His current catalog remains available on major streaming platforms, alongside the independent material he released after leaving G.O.O.D. Music. Apple Music - Web Player

Nearly a decade after his breakout, “Panda” remains the defining record of his career.

Desiigner's rise also represents one of the most dramatic success stories of the streaming era: a young Brooklyn rapper took an inexpensive beat, created a song that caught Kanye West's attention, signed to a major artist's label and watched that record become the

No. 1 song in America.

For anyone who remembers hip-hop in 2016, hearing that opening “Panda” production is still enough to bring back memories of the moment when Desiigner seemed positioned to become rap's next major star.