YSL Records | |
---|---|
Parent company | Warner Music Group |
Founded | 2016 |
Founder | Young Thug |
Distributor(s) | 300 Elektra Entertainment |
Genre | Hip hop, trap |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
Official website | youngstonerliferecords.com/ |
YSL Records (officially Young Stoner Life Records, allegedly Young Slime Life Records) is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded in 2016 by the Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug. [1] The company is a label imprint of 300 Entertainment. [2] Its artists include Gunna, [3] Lil Keed and more. Several contemporary artists, [4] including Drake, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, Lil Gotit, NAV, Travis Scott, and Slimelife Shawty have expressed allegiance to YSL, but are not contractually signed.
The label received much media attention after being embroiled in a major criminal trial since 2022, with Young Thug, Gunna, and other YSL members arrested and indicted on racketeering and various gang-related charges in violation of Georgia's RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act. Authorities allege that YSL is a record label and street gang.
The label was announced on November 15, 2016, through a video Young Thug had posted on his Snapchat showcasing his new office. [5] The video also includes a speech by 300 Entertainment co-founder, Kevin Liles, praising the new label. [6] 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. [7] 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. [8] [9]
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. [10] 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. [11]
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. [12] 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". [13] [14]
On February 28, 2020, Zaytoven released a mixtape with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty titled A-Team. [15] In March, Gunna announced his second album Wunna . Its lead single Skybox was released on March 6, alongside a music video. [16] [17] On March 16, Gunna stated on Twitter that Wunna is an acronym for: "Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic". [18] On April 3, Young Thug and Gunna released the single "Quarantine Clean", produced by Turbo. [19] The following day, Gunna explained the album had experienced release issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20] 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. [21]
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. [22]
On January 7, 2022, Gunna released his third studio album DS4Ever , which served as the fourth and final installment in his Drip Season series. [23]
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. [24] [25]
On May 13, 2022, YSL artist Lil Keed died at the age of 24. [26]
Since November 27, 2023, a trial has been ongoing involving Young Thug and several associates of YSL. Prosecutors allege that YSL, which they allege stands for "Young Slime Life", functioned as a criminal street gang. [27] [28]
On December 14, 2022, Gunna pleaded guilty to a single charge of racketeering and stated that YSL was a criminal gang. 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. [29] On December 17, rappers Slimelife Shawty and Lil Duke also pleaded guilty. [30]
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. [31] [32] [33] Young Thug 5 years in prison has been commuted to time served. [34] [35] [36] Young Thug release and probation stipulations include him being banned from the Metro Atlanta area for 10 years, he can't make gang-related music, and he has to do 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). [37] [38]
Many popular rap artists own YSL chains, usually given to them by Young Thug. Lil Uzi Vert, [39] Drake, [40] Lil Baby, [41] Lil Gotit, [42] and YoungBoy Never Broke Again [8] 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. [43] CEO, Young Thug, also launched the "SPIDER" clothing brand on December 27, 2019, which has been co-signed by YSL affiliates. [44] Many artists on the record label grew up near Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia like Lil Keed, Young Thug, and Cheat Code. [45]
Act | Year signed | Releases (under the label) |
---|---|---|
Young Thug | Founder | 10 |
Gunna [46] | 2017 | 8 |
Strick [47] | 4 | |
Yung Kayo [48] | 2020 | 1 |
Act | Years on the label | Releases (under the label) |
---|---|---|
Lil Baby [4] | 2016 | - |
YoungBoy Never Broke Again | 2017 | - |
Lil Keed [47] (deceased) | 2018-2022 | 7 |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [49] | US R&B/HH [50] | US Rap [51] | CAN [52] | BEL (FL) [53] | NLD [54] | ||
Slime Language (with Young Thug) |
| 8 | — | — | 11 | 111 | 46 |
Slime Language 2 (with Young Thug and Gunna) |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 6 |
My Struggle (with Unfoonk) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Big Deal (with FN DaDealer) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Duke Hefner (with Lil Duke) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Versatalien (with YTB Trench) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Confetti Nights (with T-Shyne) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Bub. [55] | US R&B/HH [56] | NZ Hot [57] | |||
"Take It to Trial" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Yak Gotti) | 2020 | 2 | 33 | 18 | Slime Language 2 |
"GFU" (with Yak Gotti and Sheck Wes featuring Yung Kayo) | 2021 | — | — | — | |
"That Go!" (with Young Thug and Meek Mill featuring T-Shyne) | 9 | 43 | — | ||
"Bstroy Socks" (with Yung Kayo) | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Temperature" (with Unfoonk) | — | — | — | My Struggle | |
"Cha Cha Slide" (with Yak Gotti) | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Sheesh" (with Karlae) | — | — | — | ||
"Temperature" (with Unfoonk) | — | — | — | My Struggle | |
"30 for 30" (with T-Shyne) | — | — | — | TBA | |
"Messed Up" (with Fase Yoda) | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Silent" (with Unfoonk featuring Blac Youngsta) | — | — | — | ||
"Feed the Fam" (with T-Shyne) | 2022 | — | — | — | Confetti Nights |
"Opp Top" (with Bslime) | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Blind" (with Karlae featuring Lil Yachty) | — | — | — | ||
"Because of You" (with Fase Yoda) | — | — | — | ||
"Separation" (with Bslime) | — | — | — | ||
"Did That" (with Karlae) | — | — | — | ||
"DEA" (with Unfoonk) | — | — | — | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Baguettes" (DJ Mlg featuring YSL Records) | 2019 | Non-album singles |
"Not One of Us" (NobleBrendan featuring YSL Records) | 2021 |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [58] | US R&B/HH [56] | US R&B/HH [59] | CAN [60] | NZ Hot [61] | UK [62] | WW [63] | ||||
"Slatty" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Yak Gotti and Lil Duke) | 2021 | 99 | 39 | — | — | — | — | 154 | Slime Language 2 | |
"Ski" (with Young Thug and Gunna) | 18 | 11 | 9 | 33 | 6 | 72 | 23 | |||
"Diamonds Dancing" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Travis Scott) | 46 | 21 | 16 | 39 | 5 | 80 | 35 | |||
"Solid" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Drake) | 12 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 36 | 11 |
| ||
"Came and Saw" (with Young Thug featuring Rowdy Rebel) | 66 | 29 | 23 | 76 | — | — | 87 | |||
"Paid the Fine" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Lil Baby and YTB Trench) | 77 | 32 | — | 93 | — | — | 104 | |||
"Proud of You" (with Young Thug and Gunna featuring Lil Uzi Vert and Yung Kayo) | 59 | 27 | 21 | 57 | 9 | — | 65 | |||
"Real" (with Young Thug featuring Unfoonk) | — [upper-alpha 1] | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Litty" (with Young Thug featuring DaBaby) | — [upper-alpha 2] | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Year | Album details | Details |
---|---|---|
2019 | Gunna – Drip or Drown 2 [65]
|
|
Lil Keed – Long Live Mexico [66]
|
| |
Young Thug – So Much Fun [67]
|
| |
2020 | Gunna – Wunna [69]
|
|
Lil Keed – Trapped on Cleveland 3 [70]
|
| |
2021 | Young Thug – Punk [71]
|
|
2022 | Gunna – DS4Ever
|
|
2023 | Lil Keed – Keed Talk to 'Em 2
|
|
Gunna – A Gift & a Curse
|
| |
Young Thug – Business Is Business
|
|
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2019 | Strick – See You When I Land [72]
|
Year | Album details | Details |
---|---|---|
2018 | Young Thug (with YSL Records) – Slime Language [73]
|
|
2019 | Strick – The Machine, Vol. 1 [74]
|
|
Strick – The Machine, Vol. 2 [75]
|
| |
2021 | Young Thug and Gunna (with YSL Records) – Slime Language 2 [76]
|
|
Year | Artist – Album | Details |
---|---|---|
2016 | Gunna – Drip Season [78] |
|
2017 | Gunna – Drip Season 2 [79] |
|
Gunna – Drip or Drown [80] |
| |
2018 | Gunna – Drip Season 3 [81] |
|
Gunna (with Lil Baby) – Drip Harder [82] |
| |
2020 | Lil Keed (with Zaytoven, Lil Gotit, & Lil Yachty) – A-Team [83] |
|
Young Thug (with Chris Brown) – Slime & B |
|
Jeffery Lamar Williams Jr., known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, he is considered an influential figure in modern hip hop and trap music, and a pioneer of the mumble rap microgenre. Williams embarked on a musical career in 2011, releasing a series of mixtapes beginning with I Came from Nothing. In 2013, he signed with fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records and gained further attention and praise for his debut mixtape with the label, 1017 Thug, released in February of that year.
Theory Entertainment LLC, doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold. The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, electronic, alternative, and country. Current artists include Young Thug, Fetty Wap, Mary J. Blige, No Savage, Rejjie Snow, Cheat Codes, Tee Grizzley, Famous Dex, Shy Glizzy, Cobi, Meg Mac, Dae Dae, the Hunna, Maggie Lindemann, Bailey Bryan, OMB Peezy, Ice Prince, $not and Des Rocs. It is based in New York City. The label also acts as distributor for Young Thug's record label YSL Records, whose roster includes rappers Gunna and the late Lil Keed.
The discography of American rapper Young Thug consists of three studio albums, two compilation albums, twelve self-released mixtapes, seven commercial mixtapes, three extended plays, and sixty-nine singles.
Drip Season 3 is the fourth mixtape from American rapper Gunna. It was released on February 2, 2018, by his record label, YSL Records. The album features guest appearances from Hoodrich Pablo Juan, Lil Durk, Nav, Metro Boomin, and Lil Yachty. It also features production by Nav, Metro Boomin, Wheezy, Turbo, Kacey Khaliel, Richie Souf and London on da Track, among others. This tape serves as the third installment of his Drip Season series. The deluxe edition was released simultaneously with the regular version, with three extra tracks, featuring guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, fellow labelmates Young Jordan and Young Thug, and Lil Baby. The mixtape was supported by one single: "Almighty" featuring Hoodrich Pablo Juan.
Dominique Armani Jones, known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence following the release of his 2017 mixtapes Harder than Hard and Too Hard, the former of which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its lead single, "My Dawg." He signed with Quality Control Music, an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records to release his debut studio album Harder Than Ever (2018), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Yes Indeed". Later that same year, he released the collaborative mixtape Drip Harder with fellow Georgia-based rapper Gunna, and his solo mixtape Street Gossip; the former spawned his second top ten single "Drip Too Hard", while the latter peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.
Sergio Giavanni Kitchens, known professionally as Gunna, is an American rapper, and singer-songwriter. He signed with Young Thug's YSL Records, an imprint of 300 Entertainment in 2016, and rose to fame with his third mixtape, Drip Season 3 (2018). It moderately entered the Billboard 200, while his collaborative mixtape with fellow Georgia rapper Lil Baby, Drip Harder, peaked at number four on the chart. Its lead single, "Drip Too Hard" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
The discography of American rapper Gunna consists of five studio albums, one compilation album, five mixtapes, one extended play, and 141 singles.
"Chanel (Go Get It)" is a song by American rapper Young Thug featuring American rappers Gunna and Lil Baby. It is a track from record label YSL Records' debut collaborative compilation album Slime Language (2018). The song was produced by Wheezy, SinGrinch and Psymun.
Slime Language is the debut collaborative compilation album by American record label YSL Records and American rapper Young Thug, who is the leader of the label. It was released on August 17, 2018, for streaming and digital download by YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. The compilation features guest appearances from YSL artists Lil Duke, Gunna, Strick, Thug's sisters Dolly and HiDoraah, Thug's fiancé (Jerrika) Karlae, as well as Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Keed, Nechie, Lil Baby, Jacquees, Tracy T and others. The album is executive produced by Wheezy and London on da Track and features production from Keyyz, K Bangerz, Kacey Khaliel, DY, Charlie Handsome, Smoke, Mattazik, Super, Billboard Hitmakers and Turbo, among others. The album's sequel, Slime Language 2, was released on April 16, 2021, with the deluxe edition of the album being released exactly a week later on April 23, 2021.
"Drip Too Hard" is a song by American rappers Lil Baby and Gunna, released by YSL Records, Quality Control Music, Motown and Capitol Records on September 12, 2018, as the lead single from their collaborative album Drip Harder (2018). It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song for Gunna and the third highest-charting song for Lil Baby. The song was nominated for a Grammy at the 2020 Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Performance. On September 12, 2022, the song was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for selling over 10 million copies in the US, giving both artists their first Diamond certification.
Drip Harder is a collaborative mixtape by American rappers Lil Baby and Gunna. It was released on October 5, 2018, by YSL Records, Quality Control Music, Motown and Capitol Records. The mixtape features guest appearances from Lil Durk, Nav, Young Thug, and Drake. It includes production from Turbo, Wheezy, and Tay Keith, among others. The name Drip Harder is taken from Gunna's Drip Season series of mixtapes and from Lil Baby's Harder series of mixtapes.
Semaja Zair Render, known professionally as Lil Gotit, is an American rapper and singer.
Hood Baby is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Gotit. It was released on November 16, 2018, by Alamo Records.
Raqhid Jevon Render, known professionally as Lil Keed, was an American rapper. He was signed to Young Thug's record label YSL Records, as well as 300 Entertainment. His song "Nameless" reached number 42 on the Billboard Hip Hop/R&B Songs Airplay chart.
Chandler A. Great, professionally known as Turbo, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his production with Young Thug, Travis Scott, Gunna, Nav, and Lil Baby.
Long Live Mexico is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Keed. It was released on June 14, 2019, by YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Lil Duke, Gunna, Nav, Young Thug, Guap Tarantino, MSA PG, Moneybagg Yo, Keed's younger brother Lil Gotit, Lil Uzi Vert, YNW Melly, StickBaby, Roddy Ricch, and Karlae. It sold 16,000 in first week sales, with only 300 pure album sales.
Hood Baby 2 is the third studio album by American rapper Lil Gotit. It was released on April 24, 2020, by Alamo Records.
Slime Language 2 is the second compilation album by American record label Young Stoner Life. It was released in conjunction with the label’s founder, Young Thug, and one of the label’s artists, Gunna. The compilation was released through the label and 300 Entertainment on April 16, 2021. It serves as a sequel to the 2018 release by the label and features outside guest appearances from Travis Scott, Drake, Rowdy Rebel, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Coi Leray, Big Sean, Nav, Skepta, Future, YNW Melly, Yung Bleu, Sheck Wes, Kid Cudi, and Meek Mill.
Trapped on Cleveland 3 is the second studio album by American rapper Lil Keed. It was released on August 7, 2020, by YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. It is the third and final installment of the Trapped on Cleveland mixtape series, but this is an album. The album features guest appearances from Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Ty Dolla Sign, 42 Dugg, and Future. The deluxe edition was released on October 30, 2020. It features additional guest appearances from Lil Gotit, O.T. Genasis, Quavo, Yak Gotti, Lil Duke, and Chris Brown. This would be the final project released in Lil Keed's lifetime, as he died on May 13, 2022.
Emergency Tsunami is the second commercial mixtape by Canadian rapper Nav. It was released through XO and Republic Records on November 6, 2020. The mixtape contains guest appearances from Gunna, Young Thug, Lil Baby, Lil Keed, and SahBabii. It was produced by American record producer Wheezy, with help from other producers. The mixtape was Nav's third project of the year, following his third studio album, Good Intentions, and its deluxe reissue, Brown Boy 2. The bonus version of the mixtape, including two additional songs, was released five days later, on November 11, 2020. It features an additional guest appearance from Future. It was Wheezy's second time producing every song of a project, following Gunna's extended play, Drip or Drown, in 2017. The cover of the mixtape says "emergency tsunami" in red letters in Japanese. The mixtape was supported by one single, "Young Wheezy", with Gunna, which was sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio, on January 12, 2021.