1017 Records, also known as 1017 Eskimo and formerly 1017 Bricksquad, is an American record label founded by Gucci Mane after his departure from Mizay Entertainment and the closing of So Icey. The label is home to Ralo.
History
2007–13
Gucci Mane founded his first record independent label, So Icey Entertainment, after signing with Mizay Entertainment in 2007. Soon after Gucci released his independent album, Trap-A-Thon. On May 4, 2010, Gucci Mane announced he was closing So Icey Entertainment and left Mizay Entertainment due to business concerns with Debra Antney. Gucci Mane stated that he was starting his own record label and that his employer, Jerry Alvarado, was already signing a distribution deal with Asylum Records. The first artists to sign up to 1017 Brick Squad were OJ Da Juiceman, and Waka Flocka Flame, who signed up whilst they were still signed to Mizay Entertainment. Juiceman's debut album was unofficially released through the Brick Squad record label. Brick Squad's first mainstream success occurred in 2009, when Gucci released The State vs. Radric Davis. Brick Squad also signed Waka Flocka Flame, who released his debut album, Flockaveli, through Brick Squad, Mizay Entertainment, and Warner Bros. On September 28, 2010, Mane released his seventh studio album, . On December 16, 2011, member Slim Dunkin was shot and killed at an Atlanta recording studio preparing to shoot a music video. Slim Dunkin was shot while arguing with another person in the building, who has been identified as Atlanta rapper Young Vito. On February 25, 2013, Young Vito was acquitted of murdering Slim Dunkin, but he was given a 25-year sentence for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm.
2013–2016
On March 15, 2013, via Twitter, Gucci Mane tweeted that he "dropped" Waka Flocka Flame and he was no longer a member of 1017 Brick Squad. The next day, Gucci's management claimed his Twitter account was hacked and he did not send the tweet about Waka Flocka. However Waka would claim this to be false and later diss Gucci Mane at a Dipset reunion concert in New York City. On March 27, 2013, Waka told MTV that it would be impossible for him to be dropped from 1017 Brick Squad as he owns stake in the company. He also confirmed that there was indeed a feud going on between the rappers and "they would never make music or do business together again." On September 7, 2013, various members of 1017 Brick Squad and Brick Squad Monopoly argued back and forth on Twitter. This was the culmination of a label-wide breakdown in communication, which included underlying labels like Mizay Entertainment and spawned Brick Squad Mafia, the label run by Mack Drama which is where Frenchie first ended up after splitting from the primary group, along with multiple other Brick Squad Artists. Mack Drama is also famous for being the key to Flocka's street credibility, when he had the young rapper fly out to meet up with fellow OG Elm Street Pirus, a nod by the gang in its original location and by its original founding members, of approval for Flocka's repping of the gang. Mack Drama and Waka Flocka have since parted ways from one another, as the former sided with Gucci Mane in the greater dispute within the label. He then went on to be the driving force behind artists like "Vee tha Rula" (later signed to Kid Ink and Delyric Oracle signed to both his label and her own. including Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Frenchie, Wooh da Kid, and OJ da Juiceman. Gucci would go on to say "fuck brick squad" and accuse his former manager, Waka Flocka's mom Debra Antney, of stealing money from OJ da Juiceman and Frenchie. Frenchie also accused Gucci Mane of paying for Young Vito's lawyer, the accused murderer of former 1017 Brick Squad artist Slim Dunkin, which Gucci denied. Frenchie would release a diss record towards Gucci the following day.
2016–present
Upon Gucci Mane's latest incarceration release he created a new record label, 1017 Eskimo, a partner venture with Alamo/EMPIRE Distribution. Current artists signed to 1017 include Hoodrich Pablo Juan and Lil Wop.
