Big30 has officially been given permission to get back in the recording studio, though the approval comes with strict conditions.
A federal judge approved the Memphis rapper’s request to modify one of the terms of his pretrial release, allowing him to travel for recording sessions while he fights federal charges connected to the Gucci Mane kidnapping case involving fellow rapper and close associate Pooh Shiesty.
Judge David L. Horan of Dallas signed the order on July 7. According to court documents reviewed by Complex, the ruling allows Big30, born Rodney Lamont Wright Jr., to travel to Memphis for studio sessions and music production meetings, provided he receives court approval before every trip.
The conditions remain highly restrictive. Before each approved visit, Wright must provide the court with the studio’s address, the times he plans to be there, and the names of everyone expected to attend. He is also prohibited from traveling anywhere outside the approved locations and is not allowed to have any contact with his eight co-defendants.
His legal team filed the request on June 15, describing it as a limited exception tied strictly to his career. According to the filing, they sought only a “controlled, employment-specific exception,” while leaving all other release conditions—including home detention, location monitoring, drug testing, and other restrictions—fully intact.
The motion pointed to Wright’s professional commitments with N Less Entertainment and Connect Music, stating, “These obligations create a need for access to professional recording studios and production personnel in the Memphis area.” N Less Entertainment general manager Kemario Brown previously testified that Wright has been signed to the label since 2019 and was nearing a distribution deal worth seven figures.
The request was also supported by letters from executives at both record labels, along with Shelby County Commissioner Miska Clay Bibbs, who praised Wright’s community involvement. Bibbs wrote that Wright’s efforts “reflect a consistent commitment to using his platform positively and to maintaining meaningful engagement with the communities that have supported him from the inception of his career.”
Federal prosecutors allege that on January 10, Wright and several others held Gucci Mane at gunpoint and forced him to sign documents releasing Pooh Shiesty from his recording contract. They also claim the group stole Rolex watches, jewelry, and cash from victims during the incident. Prosecutors further allege that Wright blocked the studio door while one victim was allegedly choked until nearly losing consciousness. At an April press conference, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould described the incident as a “coordinated, armed takeover” of the studio. Both Wright and Pooh Shiesty have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial involving all nine defendants was initially scheduled for July 6 but has since been postponed until February 22, 2027.
