YSL Records is an Atlanta-based record label founded by the Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug. The company is a subsidiary of 300 Entertainment. Its artists include Gunna, Lil Keed and more. Several contemporary rappers, such as Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby and Lil Gotit have expressed allegiance to YSL, but are not contractually signed.
History
The label was announced on November 15, 2016, through a video Young Thug had posted on his Snapchat showcasing his new office. The video also includes a speech by 300 Entertainment co-founder, Kevin Liles, praising the new label. 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. 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. 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. 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. On February 22, 2019, Gunna released his debut studio albumDrip or Drown 2, follow the album's single "One Call", which was accompanied by a music video. 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". On February 28, 2020, Zaytoven released a mixtape with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty titled "A-Team". In March, Gunna announced his sophomore album WUNNA. Its lead singleSKYBOX was released March 6 day alongside a music video. On March 16, Gunna stated on Twitter that WUNNA is an acronym for: "Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic". On April 3, Young Thug and Gunna released the single "Quarantine Clean", produced by Turbo the Great. The following day, Gunna explained the album had experienced release issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gunna and Young Thug collaboration was their first released song together since "Diamonds", which dropped in December of 2019.
Many popular rap artists own YSL chains, usually given to them by Young Thug. Lil Uzi Vert, Drake, Lil Baby, and Lil Gotit 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". The acronym was created by YSL Records founder Young Thug, and was first used back in 2013. CEO, Young Thug, also launched the "SPIDER" clothing brand on December 27, 2019, which has been co-signed by YSL affiliates. Many artists on the record label grew up near Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia like Lil Keed, Young Thug, and Cheat Code.
