Another 1017 Hurdle

5.4.21

Foogiano

Gucci Mane built his “New 1017” label about a year ago, signing a number of new artists to the team. They have put out a number of joint collaboration projects, such as So Icy Summer and So Icy Gang. While Gucci Mane clearly has a huge influence for musicians in the south, and constantly finds talents which people love to listen to, it has not been smooth sailing since giving out the 1017 chains. One of his newest, greatest stars, may be going away for quite some time.

It seems that the legal battles have been what has always gotten in the way of Gucci Mane, and further success. There were obviously a lot of things that went on prior to Gucci building his own label, but the problems continued. From Gucci going away shortly after singing Young Thug, and loosing him. To the lost friendship of label-mate, Ralo. While Gucci and Thug still remain close friends, it appears the friendship he had with Ralo is no longer, do to Gucci’s lack of participation in the “Free Ralo” social media movements.

The thing about Foogiano, is I see some of Ralo in him. Mostly from his sound and certain tones of his voice, but it seems like the similarities are growing. Late last year, Foogiano was arrested on a gun and weapon charge. It was right around the time where Foogiano started gaining a lot of traction, and felt like the hottest new 1017 star. While he was released shortly after, he had to wear an ankle monitor. Since, Foogiano is said to have melted off his ankle monitor, and now has been sentenced five years in prison, being charged as a fugitive from justice without a warrant.

A music executive close to Foogiano shares a Tweet calling out for help. While melting off an ankle monitor is clearly something that would be extremely frowned upon in a courthouse, the truth of the matter is, someone else had claimed the gun in the case in which Foogiano was arrested for. He writes

“Green County Just gave @FoogianoDaMayor 5 years for cutting an ankle monitor for a gun charge that wasn’t his and was claimed by some one else this is beyond crazy :( we have to do something about this!

While he definitely should not have cut off his ankle monitor, it feels extensive to be put behind bars for five years for a crime that he was already dubbed (somewhat) innocent for. It seems weird that he would need an ankle monitor at all if it was proven not be his weapon, but when you factor in the past and who he is in the hip-hop industry, things do not always go as planned.

On top of this, Meek Mill calls for the freeing of Foogiano. Meek knows first hand getting crazy sentences for something deserving of much less, more than likely due to his past and who he is in the industry. Meek Mill shares that he has a whole career ahead of him, and alleges that they are holding him because of his past.

While there is still no word from Gucci Mane himself, he did include Foogiano in the music video for his latest single Sh*t Crazy featuring Big 30, which dropped on April 30th. Foogiano also released his own project Backwood Boyz in collaboration with Geezy Escobar on April 20th.

Foogiano turned himself in to authorities, but they did not go lightly on him. It is a shame, as Foogiano was the first artist to sign with Gucci to the new 1017, but there is no telling what the future looks like for him now. This is still not the first artist that Gucci Mane had to sign and release, as Ola Runt had been signed and dropped from 1017 in the matter of weeks, because of an altercation between the two.

While it seemed like Foogiano was the front runner of 1017 for quite some time, Pooh Shiesty to seems to be taking over. Since his version of the Beatbox Freestyle, he seems to be getting on tracks with everyone, including Lil Durk on Back In Blood and Coi Leray on Big Purr. Shiesty was also arrested in October of last year for being involved at the scene of a shoot out, but so far, does not face any serious jail time.

It is one thing to find the right artists to make sound waves in the industry, but it is another to coach them into being better men and staying off of the streets. I think Gucci Mane will most likely analyze where the money is coming in, and decide if he wants to stick around to mentor, or simply replace talent that has to go away.