Previously, Sucker Free aired weekdays for one hour, then eventually sporadically until the week leading to February 28, 2010.

Sucker Free originated from a block branding of hip-hop videos on MTV2 Sundays called Sucker Free Sundays in 2002, and eventually became the branding of MTV's main hip-hop program weekdays from 2006 until 2008.

Its previous moniker, Direct Effect, debuted on September 25, 2000, and was more robust in comparison to Sucker Free.

[1] In response to the PTC's report, Procter & Gamble proposed withdrawing advertising from BET and MTV.

In 2009, the show was cut of its host and other familiar elements and aired as a top 5 countdown known as SFL 5.