The label was announced on November 15, 2016, through a video Young Thug had posted on his Snapchat showcasing his new office.

[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".

[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.

[27][28] On December 14, 2022, Gunna pleaded guilty to a single charge of racketeering and stated that YSL was a criminal gang.

[34][35][36] Young Thug's release and probation stipulations include: being banned from the Metro Atlanta area for 10 years, unable to make gang-related music, and performance of 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, both of whom were among his co-defendants).

A phrase commonly mentioned in songs by YSL affiliates is "SLATT" (Slime Love All The Time).

[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.