The company was founded in 1996 as a graffiti fanzine and since has grown to encompass a magazine, website, film, television, music label and creative agency.

The magazine was started by Patrick Elasik (deceased) and Adrian Moeller and included columnists such as R.A. the Rugged Man, Matt Goias, Mister Cartoon, Estevan Oriol and Reas.

[7] The label has since gone on to release music from artists including Nas, Run the Jewels, Fashawn, Bishop Nehru, Boldy James, J Dilla, Dave East, Mannie Fresh, Cuz Lightyear and DJ Shadow.

In 2013, Mass Appeal entered in a production partnership with CNN Films to produce a documentary, entitled Fresh Dressed (2015), about hip-hop and fashion.

[17] on Showtime, a 2-hour documentary film exploring the lives of the people at the flashpoint of the LA riots, 25 years after the uprising made national headlines and highlighted the racial divide in America.

What was born on the streets of the South Bronx has now taken root globally and the young poets of New York have helped to spawn regional dialects everywhere.

Featuring excursions with artists like Nas, Tech N9ne, J. Cole, Rapsody and Anderson .Paak, the film explores the different dimensions that hip-hop poetics occupy.

This eight part docu-series featuring artists such as Nas, 2 Chainz, Dave East, T.I., G-Eazy, Rapsody, Logic, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Just Blaze.

[26][27] Open Space is an interview series that highlights creative people of all types in a context where they are free to speak their minds―the series has featured the likes of Prodigy[28] and Fat Joe[29] as well as early interviews with upcoming acts such as Trippie Redd,[30] Tekashi 6ix9ine,[31] and Ski Mask the Slump God.

The Mass Appeal Collection has highlighted artists in their home towns including Post Malone in Dallas, Robb Banks in South Florida, and Young King Dave in Middletown, New Jersey, as well as Quality Control's emergent female rap duo City Girls.