“Leave my husband alone!” Keyshia Ka’oir was shaken with emotion on Instagram defending her husband, Gucci Mane, from a flood of criticism. The Atlanta rapper, a trap music legend,criticized for his label, 1017 Records, based on a grim pattern: many of his artists under his label ended up dead or in prison. Ka’oir argues Gucci was coming from a good place with his label, but the cost is steep.
Gucci Mane, born Radric Delantic Davis, founded 1017 Records in 2007, aiming to uplift emerging talent from Atlanta’s streets. After his own battles with incarceration, he relaunched it as The New 1017 in 2016, partnering with Atlantic Records.
“I see a lot of myself in them,”
Gucci said on the All Things Keyshia Ka’oir podcast, explaining his mission to sign “troubled kids” from underserved communities to offer them a way out. Ka’oir echoed this:
“We purposely signed troubled kids to give them a better life.”
Their goal was compassion, not control, but the outcomes tell a darker story.
The fates of 1017 artists are hard to ignore. According to hypefresh reports, at least seven signees have faced devastating setbacks. Big Scarr passed away from a prescription pill overdose in December of 2022. Enchanting was a rising star who died from an overdose in June of 2024. Pooh Shiesty and Foogiano face five-year jail terms for gun-related offenses. Hotboy Wes was given a 15-year sentence for robbery in 2022, while Mac Critter was indicted for murder in 2023.
Social media has dubbed this pattern the “1017 Curse,” with users on X speculating that signing with Gucci’s label is a “death sentence.” Rapper-turned-podcaster Joe Budden has questioned Gucci’s A&R approach, suggesting the label’s focus on high-risk talent may lack sufficient support. Yet others, like Boosie BadAzz, defend Gucci:
“What a n**** go do on they own, that’s what they do on their own… Don’t put it on that man like that’s his fault.”
Ka’oir herself pushed back, saying,
“They blame him for it. How? These people are on drugs… Gucci’s not their dad.”
The debate rages, splitting fans between those who see systemic failure and those who stress personal responsibility.
My MixtapezView on XGucci Mane’s wife says it’s not Gucci’s fault that almost all his artists have died or are in jail:”We purposely signed troubled kids to give them a w…
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The tragedies at 1017 Records raise tough questions. Can a label mentor at-risk artists without becoming their keeper? Gucci’s own past marked by legal troubles shapes his empathy for signees, but critics argue labels must do more than sign talent; they need robust support systems. The music industry, built on raw stories from the streets, often leaves artists vulnerable. As Ka’oir said,
“There’s only so much you can do.”
Yet the losses Enchanting, Big Scarr, and others demand a reckoning. Should the industry invest in mental health, addiction support, or mentorship to break this cycle?
