YSL Records
YSL Records (also known as Young Stoner Life and Young Slime Life) is an Atlanta-based record label founded by the Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug.[1] The company is a subsidiary of 300 Entertainment.[2] Its artists include Gunna,[3] 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.
YSL Records | |
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The official logo for YSL Records | |
Parent company | Warner Music Group |
Founded | 2010 |
Founder | Young Thug |
Distributor(s) | 300, Atlantic |
Genre | Hip hop, Trap |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
History
The label was announced on November 15, 2016, through a video Young Thug had posted on his Snapchat showcasing his new office.[4] The video also includes a speech by 300 Entertainment co-founder, Kevin Liles, praising the new label.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11] 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".[12][13]
On February 28, 2020, Zaytoven released a mixtape with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty titled "A-Team".[14] In March, Gunna announced his sophomore album WUNNA. Its lead single SKYBOX was released March 6 day alongside a music video.[15][16] On March 16, Gunna stated on Twitter that WUNNA is an acronym for: "Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic".[17] On April 3, Young Thug and Gunna released the single "Quarantine Clean", produced by Turbo the Great.[18] The following day, Gunna explained the album had experienced release issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] The Gunna and Young Thug collaboration was their first released song together since "Diamonds", which dropped in December of 2019.
Current roster
Act | Year Signed | Releases (under the label) |
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Young Thug | 2016 | 15 |
Lil Duke[20] | 7 | |
Gunna[21] | 2017 | 6 |
Dolly White | 1 | |
HiDoraah | 1 | |
Strick | 1 | |
Young Jordan[22] | 1 | |
T-Shyne | 2 | |
Nechie | 1 | |
Cheat Code | 1 | |
Money Game Boo | 1 | |
YSL Fargo | 5 | |
Aretana | 2018 | 3 |
Lil Keed | 2 | |
Unfunk | 2019 | 1 |
Karlae | 0 | |
Loyal Duce | 2020 | 0 |
Yung Kayo[23] | 0 | |
In-house producers
Former acts
- RaisedReal Jett (2017-2019: deceased)
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Album details | Details |
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2019 | Gunna - Drip or Drown 2[24]
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Lil Keed - Long Live Mexico[25]
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Young Thug - So Much Fun[26]
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2020 | Gunna - Wunna[28]
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Lil Keed - Trapped On Cleveland 3[29]
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EPs
Year | Album details | Details |
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2019 | HiDoraah & Dolly White - Slimestas[30]
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Strick - See You When I Land[31]
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Compilation albums
Year | Album details | Details |
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2018 | Young Thug (with YSL Records) - Slime Language[32]
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2019 | Strick - The Machine, Vol. 1[33]
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Strick - The Machine, Vol. 2[34]
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2020 | Young Thug - Slime Language 2[35]
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Mixtapes
Year | Album details | Details |
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2016 | Gunna - Drip Season[36]
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2017 | Lil Duke - Life In The Hills[37]
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Gunna - Drip Season 2[38]
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Lil Duke - Uber[39]
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Lil Duke - Lil Duke[40]
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Lil Duke - Blue Devil[41]
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Lil Duke - Hit Hard, Move Silent[42]
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Lil Duke - Uberman 2[43]
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Gunna - Drip or Drown[44]
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2018 | Gunna - Drip Season 3[45]
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Lil Duke - Reality Checc[46]
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Gunna (with Lil Baby) - Drip Harder[47]
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2020 | Lil Keed (with Zaytoven, Lil Gotit, & Lil Yachty) - A-Team[48]
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Young Thug (with Chris Brown) - Slime & B
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Culture
Many popular rap artists own YSL chains, usually given to them by Young Thug. Lil Uzi Vert,[49] Drake,[50] Lil Baby,[51] and Lil Gotit[52] 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.[53] CEO, Young Thug, also launched the "SPIDER" clothing brand on December 27, 2019, which has been co-signed by YSL affiliates.[54] Many artists on the record label grew up near Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia like Lil Keed, Young Thug, and Cheat Code.[55]
References
- Madden, Sidney. "Young Thug Launches YSL Records - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- "300 Entertainment". 300ent.com.
- "Meet Gunna: Young Thug's Perpetually Drippin' YSL Moussa is the Co-producer of the YSL Brand . Signee". Hotnewhiphop.com.
- "Young Thug Is Launching His Own Record Label". Complex. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- "Young Thug Launches YSL records". Xxlmag.com.
- "Meet Gunna: Young Thug's Perpetually Drippin' YSL Signee". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- "Young Thug signs NBA YoungBoy to YSL and gives him a chain". HipHopOverload.com. September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- "YSL Records Artists, History, Releases". rapintel. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- Saponara, Michael (August 15, 2018). "Young Thug Shares 'Slime Language' Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- Lamarre, Carl (September 12, 2018). "Lil Baby & Gunna Announce Their New Project 'Drip Harder,' Unleash First Single 'Drip Too Hard'". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- "Gunna's Drip or Drown 2 tracklist is here". The FADER. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- "Lil Keed announces Long Live Mexico album, shares Young Thug collaboration "Proud Of Me"". The FADER. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- "Lil Keed drops debut album Long Live Mexico". The FADER. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- Ingvaldsen, Torsten (February 28, 2020). "Zaytoven Taps Lil Yachty, Lil Keed & Lil Gotit for Trap-Heavy 'A-Team' Project". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- A., Aron (March 4, 2020). "Gunna Teases New Music With "Wunna" Trailer". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "SKYBOX - Single by Gunna on Apple". March 6, 2020 – via Apple Music.
- A., Aron (March 17, 2020). "Gunna Breaks Down The Acronym For "WUNNA"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- William Cowen, Trace (April 3, 2020). "Young Thug and Gunna Connect on Turbo's "Quarantine Clean"". Complex. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Cole, Alexander (April 2, 2020). "Gunna Reveals Plans For New Album Amid Coronavirus Crisis". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "Duke". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- "Gunna wants you to go out and get it". Thefader.com. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- "Jordan is Ready for His Verse". VFILES. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- Records, Young Stoner Life (January 29, 2020). "Welcome @YungKayo_ to @YSLRecords pic.twitter.com/XpLcRP8qZq". @YSLrecords. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- "Drip or Drown 2 by Gunna on Apple Music". August 16, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "Long Live Mexico by Lil Keed on Apple Music". June 14, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "So Much Fun by Young Thug on Apple Music". August 16, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "So Much Fun (Deluxe) by Young Thug on Apple Music". December 20, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- A, Aaron (March 4, 2020). "Gunna Teases New Music With "Wunna" Trailer". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- "Lil Keed Releases New Album Trapped on Cleveland 3: Listen". Pitchfork. August 7, 2020.
- Slimestas, retrieved April 4, 2020
- "See You When I Land by Strick on Apple Music". January 19, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "Slime Language by Young Thug on Apple Music". August 17, 2018 – via Apple Music.
- "The Machine, Vol. 1 by Strick on Apple Music". June 28, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "The Machine, Vol. 2 by Strick on Apple Music". October 31, 2019 – via Apple Music.
- "Young Thug Announces "Slime Language 2" Release Date". HotNewHipHop. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- "Drip Season by Gunna on Apple Music". October 15, 2016 – via Apple Music.
- "Life in the Hills by Lil Duke on Apple Music". April 20, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Drip Season 2 by Gunna on Apple Music". May 11, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Uber by Lil Duke on Apple Music". October 3, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Lil Duke by Lil Duke on Apple Music". October 3, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Blue Devil by Lil Duke on Apple Music". October 3, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- Hit Hard, Move Silent, retrieved April 4, 2020
- "Uberman 2 by Lil Duke on Apple Music". November 28, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Drip or Drown by Gunna on Apple Music". November 30, 2017 – via Apple Music.
- "Drip Season 3 by Gunna on Apple Music". February 2, 2018 – via Apple Music.
- "Reality Checc by Lil Duke on Apple Music". April 10, 2018 – via Apple Music.
- "Drip Harder by Lil Baby & Gunna on Apple Music". October 4, 2018 – via Apple Music.
- A-Team by Zaytoven, retrieved April 4, 2020
- "Young Thug Is Giving Lil Uzi Vert His Own YSL Chain". Hotnewhiphop.com.
- "Drake Gives Young Thug Diamond-Studded YSL Chain". Hotnewhiphop.com.
- "Lil Baby Talks Quality Control And Life After Rap". Vibe.com. May 21, 2018.
- Blue, Bo (November 19, 2018). "New YSL Artist Lil Gotit is the Hood Baby". The Fresh Committee. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- "What Does "Slatt" Mean?". genius.com.
- "Young Thug Launches Clothing Brand SPIDER". thefader.com.
- "GEN F: Young Thug". thefader.com.