The label was a subsidiary of Sleeping Bag Records that sold hip hop music.

The label's roster included EPMD, Nice & Smooth, Just-Ice and T La Rock; house-music pioneer Todd Terry; and electro artists Hanson & Davis and Chocolette.

EPMD rhymed about its record-signing experience with the label in the song "Please Listen to My Demo", from the 1989 album Unfinished Business ("Signed on the dotted line, now we Fresh Records members.").

[citation needed] After closing its doors (along with its parent label) in 1992, the catalog sat in limbo for several years.

However, the rights of the EPMD albums Strictly Business and Unfinished Business, and Nice & Smooth’s self-titled album were acquired by Priority/EMI Records shortly after Sleeping Bag ceased operations.