Gucci Mane’s decision to release nearly his entire 1017 Records roster is facing new scrutiny after former artist Li Rye claimed Atlantic Records was actually behind the shakeup. According to the rapper, Gucci didn’t voluntarily part ways with his artists. Instead, Atlantic allegedly ended its relationship with Gucci’s label, leaving the roster without its major label backing.
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In a livestream clip shared online, Li Rye challenged the public explanation surrounding the 1017 Records situation, suggesting the decision came from Atlantic rather than Gucci himself.“So basically they gave him a label, and he made it 1017,” he explained.
Li Rye claimed that his manager received a phone call informing him that Atlantic was shutting down the operation.
“Yeah, they called my manager and said Atlantic shut down 1017. Atlantic shutting down 1017. So he didn’t drop nobody. He got dropped.”
His comments present a different version of events from the one Gucci previously shared publicly. However, Li Rye has not provided documentation supporting the alleged termination, and neither Gucci Mane nor Atlantic Records has publicly confirmed his account.
The controversy traces back to October 18, 2024, when Gucci announced sweeping changes to 1017 Records.
The Atlanta rapper revealed on Instagram that he planned to release nearly every artist signed to his imprint, retaining only Pooh Shiesty and Foogiano.
Gucci attributed the decision to his review of the label’s profit and loss statement, explaining that the financial performance of his roster made it difficult to justify continuing with the same lineup. He also indicated that he had notified the affected artists and their attorneys.
The announcement seemingly affected a roster that included Li Rye, BigWalkDog, BiC Fizzle, Lil Zay, Mac Critter, Hotboy Wes, and several other emerging rappers associated with The New 1017.
Li Rye’s allegation raises a significant question about that announcement: Was Gucci making an independent business decision, or was he responding to a larger decision made by Atlantic?
The distinction matters because 1017 Records operated with substantial support from the major label.
In a 2022 interview with XXL, Atlantic executive Lanre Gaba discussed helping Gucci develop 1017 into a functioning label. She explained that Atlantic executives supported his vision, helped establish the infrastructure, and provided resources to develop its artists.
That partnership allowed Gucci to expand his reputation as a talent scout into a larger operation responsible for discovering, signing, and promoting emerging hip hop artists.
Li Rye was among the artists who benefited from that system. During a 2023 interview with SHEEN Magazine, the Mobile, Alabama, rapper explained that Gucci discovered his music through YouTube before contacting his manager.
At the time, Li Rye described their relationship positively, crediting Gucci with providing guidance and giving him an opportunity to develop his career.
However, subsequent developments complicate Li Rye’s claim that Atlantic completely shut down 1017.
On October 17, 2025, Atlantic Records issued an official announcement celebrating Gucci’s album “Episodes.” The company explicitly identified the project as a release through 1017/Atlantic Music Group, one year after Gucci’s roster cuts.
The relationship also remained visible in 2026. Gucci’s April 2026 single “Crash Dummy” was released under the 1017/Atlantic imprint.
Additionally, Pitchfork’s August 2026 review identified Pooh Shiesty’s album “All Eyes on Shiest” as a 1017/Atlantic release.
These records establish that the partnership continued releasing music after the original roster shakeup. They do not, however, establish whether the companies’ contractual relationship has changed since those releases.
Atlantic’s official 1017 website also remains accessible and carries a 2026 copyright, although its artist listings include names associated with the previous roster. That makes the website insufficient proof of who remains contractually signed today.
For now, the available evidence establishes two things: Gucci publicly announced the roster cuts in 2024, and music continued arriving through 1017/Atlantic afterward.
Whether Atlantic privately pressured Gucci to reduce his roster, changed its financial commitments, or considered terminating the partnership remains unverified.
Li Rye’s comments have reopened questions about the business decisions behind one of hip hop’s most recognizable artist development imprints. But without confirmation from Atlantic, Gucci, or the relevant contracts, his allegation remains an account from a former artist rather than an established explanation for what happened to 1017 Records.
