YSL Records

The label was announced on November 15, 2016, through a video Young Thug had posted on his Snapchat showcasing his new office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2016/11/young-thug-record-label|title=Young Thug Is Launching His Own Record Label|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}} The video also includes a speech by 300 Entertainment co-founder, Kevin Liles, praising the new label.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/11/young-thug-ysl-records/%7c|title=Young Thug Launches YSL records|website=Xxlmag.com}} In 2017, the label announced its first signee, fellow Atlanta native Gunna who was also being courted by Thug's mentor and former label Gucci Mane & 1017 Brick Squad Records.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/meet-gunna-young-thugs-perpetually-drippin-ysl-signee-news.28241.html|title=Meet Gunna: Young Thug's Perpetually Drippin' YSL Signee|website=HotNewHipHop|date=February 2017 |access-date=2019-10-22}} During a string of mixtape releases that year, the label would announce further signees to the label with YoungBoy Never Broke Again signing a 5-album joint venture deal with YSL and Atlantic Records after opting against signing with Birdman's Cash Money Records, Lil Duke would also join the label alongside Thug's sisters Dolly and HiDoraah.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiphopoverload.com/young-thug-signs-nba-youngboy/|title=thugger signs NBA YoungBoy to YSL and gives him a chain|date=2017-09-08|website=HipHopOverload.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-22|archive-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124613/https://www.hiphopoverload.com/young-thug-signs-nba-youngboy/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://rapintel.com/industry/ysl-records/|title=YSL Records Artists, History, Releases|website=rapintel|date=March 21, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521190753/https://rapintel.com/industry/ysl-records/|url-status=dead}}

On August 15, 2018, Thug announced a mixtape featuring the label's signees, except YoungBoy, titled Slime Language, which he released on his 27th birthday on August 16.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8470361/young-thug-shares-slime-language-release-date|title=Young Thug Shares 'Slime Language' Release Date|last=Saponara|first=Michael|magazine=Billboard|date=August 15, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2020}} On September 12, Lil Baby announced a mixtape with Gunna titled Drip Harder, which was released on October 5 with Baby's label Quality Control.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8474801/lil-baby-gunna-drip-harder-new-song-drip-too-hard|title=Lil Baby & Gunna Announce Their New Project 'Drip Harder,' Unleash First Single 'Drip Too Hard'|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|magazine=Billboard|date=September 12, 2018|access-date=March 3, 2020}}

On February 22, 2019, Gunna released his debut studio album Drip or Drown 2, follow the album's single "One Call", which was accompanied by a music video.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/02/19/gunna-drip-or-drown-2-tracklist|title=Gunna's Drip or Drown 2 tracklist is here|website=The FADER|date=February 19, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}} On June 14, Lil Keed released his debut studio album Long Live Mexico, which was supported by three singles "Oh My God", "Proud Of Me", and "Pull Up".{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/05/06/lil-keed-long-live-mexico-proud-of-me-young-thug|title=Lil Keed announces Long Live Mexico album, shares Young Thug collaboration "Proud Of Me"|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/06/14/lil-keed-long-live-mexico|title=Lil Keed drops debut album Long Live Mexico|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}

On February 28, 2020, Zaytoven released a mixtape with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty titled A-Team.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/2/zaytoven-lil-keed-lil-yachty-lil-gotit-a-team-album-stream|title=Zaytoven Taps Lil Yachty, Lil Keed & Lil Gotit for Trap-Heavy 'A-Team' Project|last=Ingvaldsen|first=Torsten|website=Hypebeast|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2020}} In March, Gunna announced his second album Wunna. Its lead single Skybox was released on March 6, alongside a music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunna-teases-new-music-with-wunna-trailer-news.105454.html|title=Gunna Teases New Music With "Wunna" Trailer

|last=A.|first=Aron|website=HotNewHipHop|date=March 4, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/skybox-single/1500963949|title=SKYBOX – Single by Gunna on Apple|via=Apple Music|date=March 6, 2020}} On March 16, Gunna stated on Twitter that Wunna is an acronym for: "Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic".{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunna-breaks-down-the-acronym-for-wunna-news.106589.html|title=Gunna Breaks Down The Acronym For "WUNNA"|last=A.|first=Aron|website=HotNewHipHop|date=March 17, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}} On April 3, Young Thug and Gunna released the single "Quarantine Clean", produced by Turbo.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/04/turbo-gunna-young-thug-quarantine-clean|title=Young Thug and Gunna Connect on Turbo's "Quarantine Clean"|last=William Cowen|first=Trace|website=Complex|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}} The following day, Gunna explained the album had experienced release issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunna-reveals-plans-for-new-album-amid-coronavirus-crisis-news.107739.html|title=Gunna Reveals Plans For New Album Amid Coronavirus Crisis|last=Cole|first=Alexander|website=HotNewHipHop|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}} The Gunna and Young Thug collaboration was their first released song together since "Diamonds", which was released in December 2019.

On August 7, 2020, Lil Keed released his second studio album Trapped on Cleveland 3 through YSL Records.{{Cite web|title=Lil Keed Delivers Diverse New Record 'Trapped On Cleveland 3'|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/8/lil-keed-trapped-on-cleveland-3-album-stream-obama-coupe-music-video|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Hypebeast|date=August 7, 2020 }}

On December 18, 2020, YSL Records released "Take It to Trial", by Young Thug, Gunna and featuring Yak Gotti, the first single off the Slime Language 2 compilation, which followed on April 16, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/12/17/young-thug-gunna-yak-gotti-take-it-to-trial|title=Young Thug, Gunna, & Yak Gotti 'Take It to Trial' on New Single|work=Rap-Up|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=December 18, 2020}}

On January 7, 2022, Gunna released his third studio album DS4Ever, which served as the fourth and final installment in his Drip Season series.{{Cite web|title=Gunna shares Drip Season 4 tracklist and features|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/01/05/gunna-drip-season-4-tracklist-features|access-date=2022-01-06|website=The FADER|language=en}}

On May 9, 2022, members of YSL were arrested and charged with RICO-related charges stemming from a grand jury indictment filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Both Young Thug and Gunna were among the 28 associates charged and were arrested.{{Cite magazine |last=Bouza |first=Kat |date=2022-05-10 |title=Young Thug Arrested on Gang-Related Charges |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/young-thug-grand-jury-rico-indictment-1350975/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2022-05-11 |title=Rapper Gunna Jailed in Atlanta on Racketeering Charge With Young Thug |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/gunna-arrested-racketeering-young-thug-1235263993/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Variety}}

On May 13, 2022, YSL artist Lil Keed died at the age of 24.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Rapper Lil Keed has died, aged 24 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/lil-keed-death-cause-young-thug-b2078988.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

{{Main|YSL Records racketeering trial|}}

From November 27, 2023 until December 3rd, 2024, a racketeering trial involved Young Thug and several associates of YSL. Prosecutors alleged that YSL, which they alleged stands for "Young Slime Life", functioned as a criminal street gang,{{cite web | last=Coscarelli | first=Joe | title=Young Thug's YSL RICO Trial: What to Know | website=The New York Times | date=12 December 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/young-thug-ysl-rico-trial.html | access-date=26 August 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Guy |first=Zoe |date=2024-08-29 |title=Everything We Know About YSL's RICO Case |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/ysl-young-thug-gunna-arrest-charges-explained.html |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Vulture |language=en}} with label boss Young Thug as the leader of the gang.{{Cite magazine |last1=Wicker |first1=Jewel |last2=Donahue |first2=Bill |date=2023-11-27 |title='King Slime': Prosecutors Say Young Thug Was a Violent Gang Boss as RICO Trial Kicks Off |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/young-thug-ysl-rico-trial-starts-atlanta-1235512064/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The trial was the longest criminal trial in the state of Georgia.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Co-defendants of Young Thug acquitted in Georgia's longest criminal trial |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/co-defendants-young-thug-acquitted-rcna180794 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

On December 14, 2022, Gunna pleaded guilty to a single charge of racketeering and testified that YSL was a criminal gang, as part of an Alford plea. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year commuted to time served, and the remainder of the sentence suspended on probation, including 500 hours of community service.{{Cite news |last1=Papp |first1=Jozsef |last2=Abusaid |first2=Shaddi |title=Gunna and alleged gang co-founder negotiate guilty pleas in YSL RICO case |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/alleged-ysl-co-founder-negotiates-guilty-plea-in-rico-indictment/AXLK47XBHZAANP2UGWRNCBA5PY/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |issn=1539-7459}} On December 17, rappers Slimelife Shawty and Lil Duke also pleaded guilty.[https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/12/17/slimelife-shawty-released-after-entering-plea-deal-in-ysl-rico-case/ SLIMELIFE SHAWTY RELEASED AFTER ENTERING PLEA DEAL IN YSL RICO CASE]{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=May 2025}}

On October 31, 2024, Young Thug was released from jail after he accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 40 years: 5 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and a backload of 20 years in prison if probation is violated.{{Cite news |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug Pleads Guilty in YSL Case Nearly a Year Into Trial|language=en-US |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/arts/music/young-thug-guilty-plea-ysl-young-slime-life-trial.html|access-date=October 31, 2024|issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite magazine|last=Tharpe|first=Frazier|date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug Is Going Home|url=https://www.gq.com/story/young-thug-free-plea-deal-time-served-ysl-rico-trial|access-date=October 31, 2024|magazine=GQ|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Pequeño IV|first=Antonio|date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug Will Be Released From Jail After Accepting Plea Deal In Racketeering Case|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/10/31/young-thug-will-be-released-from-jail-after-accepting-plea-deal-in-racketeering-case/|access-date=October 31, 2024|magazine=Forbes|language=en-US}} Young Thug's 5 years in prison has been commuted to time served.{{Cite magazine|last=Horowitz|first=Steven J.|date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug to Be Released From Prison After Accepting Plea Deal in Georgia RICO Case|url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/young-thug-accepts-plea-deal-georgia-rico-case-1236196769/|access-date=October 31, 2024|magazine=Variety|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Dillon|first=Nancy|date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug Takes Plea Deal in YSL Trial, Due to Be Released From Jail|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/young-thug-plea-ysl-rico-trial-1235148330/|access-date=October 31, 2024|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite magazine|last=Donahue|first=Bill|date=October 31, 2024|title=Young Thug Gets No Prison Time After Pleading Guilty In YSL RICO Case|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/young-thug-pleads-guilty-ysl-rico-case/|access-date=October 31, 2024|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} Young Thug's release and probation stipulations include: being banned from the Metro Atlanta area for 10 years, unable to make gang-related music, and performance of four annual anti-gang presentations/concerts for Atlanta, alongside having no contact with known gang members or co-defendants (other than Gunna and his biological brother, both of whom were among his co-defendants).{{Cite magazine|last=Pilley|first=Max|date=November 1, 2024|title=Young Thug accepts plea deal on gang charges, released from jail|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/young-thug-accepts-plea-deal-on-gang-charges-released-from-jail-3808572|access-date=November 1, 2024|magazine=NME|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Segarra|first=Edward|date=November 1, 2024|title=Young Thug to be released after pleading guilty in RICO trial, will serve probation|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/10/31/young-thug-trial-guilty-plea/75970700007/|access-date=November 1, 2024|newspaper=USA Today|issn=0734-7456|language=en-US}}

Many popular rap artists own YSL chains, usually given to them by Young Thug. Lil Uzi Vert,{{cite web |title=Young Thug Is Giving Lil Uzi Vert His Own YSL Chain |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/young-thug-giving-lil-uzi-vert-his-own-ysl-chain-news.28471.html |website=Hotnewhiphop.com}} Drake,{{cite web |title=Drake Gives Young Thug Diamond-Studded YSL Chain |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/drake-gives-young-thug-diamond-studded-ysl-chain-news.29385.html |website=Hotnewhiphop.com}} Lil Baby,{{cite web |date=21 May 2018 |title=Lil Baby Talks Quality Control And Life After Rap |url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/05/lil-baby-interview |website=Vibe.com}} Lil Gotit,{{Cite web |last=Blue |first=Bo |date=2018-11-19 |title=New YSL Artist Lil Gotit is the Hood Baby |url=https://thefreshcommittee.com/2018/11/new-ysl-artist-lil-gotit-hood-baby/ |access-date=2019-09-15 |website=The Fresh Committee |language=en-US}} and YoungBoy Never Broke Again all have YSL chains. The official YSL Records Instagram page created a large stir after announcing a project titled Slime Language, which ended up being a compilation album by YSL Records. A phrase commonly mentioned in songs by YSL affiliates is "SLATT" (Slime Love All The Time). The acronym was created by YSL Records founder Young Thug, and was first used back in 2013.{{cite web |title=What Does "Slatt" Mean? |url=https://genius.com/a/what-does-slatt-mean?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=3f2df425d9099b93866a95634149c86ada8e0f07-1585970694-0-AX9sR9IUCbDnWZWZFn-nxzWWkLDFbn3M4E5mJwgnXpT8K5jUjwW6ZNSzkGbwdcveisojqTiZQv2H6FJd0_E-jh5lmadmudZMHnvh3SoFQ73Maq5R2Wl9lnh2LeXpg8DFFdrrxaEd0C13tUV5JPcBOtxtHmTe6kuVQYr1k4DP7OlJ7Qw4d2jN6oxQX_4xXgKAJE2S-R_-vNkvs3nH0wSYYoLa83lv6vHCbaEQ-l7-OqZ5JJ6iX5B2fw8uKoDqts1xJJNNcTPX3sCm77HT_xHCRAyBJ8mSRQgI5EyAiW1x63sqQ_H-AevzT8-IJmBnOJpC8lP_Ryb_SpVWdtJBJyBCq__ajHdO1PgiucFsfYvtarP- |website=genius.com}} CEO, Young Thug, also launched the "SPIDER" clothing brand on December 27, 2019, which has been co-signed by YSL affiliates.{{cite web |date=December 26, 2019 |title=Young Thug Launches Clothing Brand SPIDER |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/12/29/young-thug-clothing-spider |website=thefader.com}} Many artists on the record label grew up near Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia like Lil Keed, Young Thug, and Cheat Code.{{cite web |title=GEN F: Young Thug |url=https://www.thefader.com/2013/05/08/gen-f-young-thug |website=thefader.com}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{official site|https://www.youngstonerliferecords.com/}}

{{Young Thug}}{{Warner Music Group}}{{Authority control}}

Category:2016 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:American companies established in 2016

Category:American hip-hop record labels

Category:Companies based in Atlanta

Category:Record labels based in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Record labels established in 2016

Category:Warner Music labels