After being accused of releasing unauthorized material from former Big Cat Records artist Gucci Mane last week, label CEO Marlon Rowe is speaking out in his own defense.

Gucci Mane left his former recording home, Big Cat Records, earlier this year to sign a deal with Asylum/Atlantic Records. The label recently released Gucci’s final indie album, Trap-A-Thon, which was recorded last year after he was released from jail. The album also includes the original version of Gucci’s current hit single, “Freaky Gurl.” Last week Gucci Mane spoke out against his former label releasing the material,
claiming that Big Cat is simply trying to capitalize off his recent
success.

Now, Big Cat CEO Marlon Rowe is coming forth and refuting Gucci’s claims, alleging that Atlantic Records is in fact trying to take advantage of him. “People are saying the Trap-A-Thon album is Gucci
Mane’s best so far and we agree,” said Rowe via a statement. “Even
though our issues with his new label have become public, we still feel
that Gucci Mane is one of the best in the game. His work on Trap-A-Thon, recorded last year after he was exonerated and released, is as street as it gets.”

Though diplomatic in his statement, Rowe also took the opportunity to express his displeasure in a recent interview. “They’re trying to hijack my record,” Rowe told the New York Times.
“They have the resources and the money to create their own hits. They
can work with any producer they want in the world. We’re just a small
independent out of Atlanta. It’s not fair.”

Big Cat claims Asylum Records approached the label with an offer to
buy ‘Freaky Gurl’ for $15,000. A person close to Asylum, who asked that
their identity not be revealed because of the legal issues surrounding
the case, disputed that account, saying it was Big Cat that first made
overtures about selling the song, and that the price demand ran into
the hundreds of thousands of dollars.