A YSL member refers primarily to an artist or associate of "Young Stoner Life Records" (YSL Records), which is an American record label founded in 2016 by the rapper Young Thug and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The label focuses on hip- hop music and includes artists such as Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Keed, and others. However, the term "YSL" has taken on a dual and more controversial meaning. While YSL originally stands for "Young Stoner Life," the label has been involved in legal issues, with prosecutors alleging that YSL also stands for "Young Slime Life," and operates as a criminal street gang under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Members referred to as YSL members in this context are alleged to be involved in gang-related activities as well as music. This interpretation has been part of a major criminal trial involving Young Thug and other affiliates charged with racketeering and gang-related crimes. Thus, a YSL member can be:
- An artist or associate signed to Young Stoner Life Records, the music label.
- Alleged by law enforcement and prosecutors to be a member of Young Slime Life, a criminal gang affiliated with the label in legal contexts.
The label and the alleged gang share members but represent different facets: one is a music business and cultural entity, the other a law enforcement description of criminal activity linked to some associates of the label. Young Thug and others have disputed the gang-related claims, maintaining the label's primary identity as a music entity. Some YSL members have expressed affiliation with both interpretations in different contexts. In hip-hop culture, being a YSL member often means being part of the Young Stoner Life music collective founded by Young Thug. The label is influential in the Atlanta rap scene and known for its lifestyle branding and music releases. In summary, a YSL member is generally an artist or affiliate of Young Stoner Life Records but may be related to the legal allegations where YSL is described as a street gang called Young Slime Life.
