Infectious Panda - Desiigner's viral hit, from Rochdale to the White House
6 May 2016
New York rapper Desiigner is just 18 years old. He took advice on his name from his little sister (putting two 'i's in it would make girls like him more) and he only started taking music seriously when he was 14.
He's also just knocked Rihanna off the top of the US singles chart, been sampled by Kanye and there's even a montage video of President Obama performing his hit, Panda. (See below!!) From a $200 YouTube sample in 2014 to this year's biggest viral breakout, here's how it happened...
The story of 'Panda' starts in Manchester, where producer Menace makes beats. in 2014, Desiigner was searching YouTube for a new track - he came across Menace's work and paid him $200 for the beat from what became 'Panda.'
$200 is quite a lot for a 16-year-old rapper looking for inspiration but not the kind of money associated with a Billboard Number One sampled by Kanye West. Menace hasn't been ripped off, though; because he composed the beat, rather than using samples, he retains the publishing rights and receives royalties from its usage - not bad at all for a guy who was working in a phone shop when he first sold it.
Desiigner kept working on the track for two years, apparently getting the idea for the track from thinking a car in Grand Theft Auto looked like a panda. The song didn't emerge until he was fully happy with it - immediately paying off when Kanye West sampled it on 'Father Stretch My Hand Pt. 2' on 'Life of Pablo.'
Kanye knows a good beat when he hears one - and so do a lot of dancers. Within months, 'Panda' was a YouTube choreography sensation.
Even actual pandas are getting in on it. And err, an actual (montage of) President of the USA.
Listen to Desiigner's label mate Pusha T talk to DJ Semtex about 'Panda' on 1Xtra
Pusha T Interview
Pusha T talks Desiigner, Future and GOOD music with DJ Semtex
