BigXthaPlug Embraced By Country Community On Bold New Project [Interview]

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BigXthaPlug. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk

When Texas rapper BigXthaPlug released his breakout single “Texas,” he didn’t expect it to shift the trajectory of his career. What began as a playful nod to stereotypes about his home state quickly opened unexpected doors — including a new creative chapter rooted in country storytelling.

Jelly Roll and BigX

“I didn’t even want to do the ‘Texas’ song,” he admits with a laugh. “I thought it was cliche and kind of corny. But when it blew up, it opened up those doors for me — doors I didn’t even realize were there.”

Today, BigX released I Hope You’re Happy, a country project that blends his unmistakable voice and storytelling with the spirit of the genre. While he isn’t pivoting into country for good, he’s clear this body of work came from a genuine place. “I’m an artist. I might go pop after this — you never know. But I want to be the best artist I can possibly be. And to do that, you’ve gotta conquer different levels.”

Long before BigX committed to making a country project, the community welcomed him. Heavy-hitters like Luke Combs and Jelly Roll showed support early, and collaborations with Shaboozey, Jessie Murph, Teddy Swims and others became a natural extension of that embrace. He remembers meeting Combs after a sold-out Houston show: “He just told me, ‘Man, I really like what you’ve got going. We should do something.’ Then he called me his favorite rapper. That right there was like — whoa.”

BigX also laughs about their unlikely bonding point: watches. “He’s the reason I bought plain watches. His collection inspired me,” he says, still surprised at the connection. That kind of camaraderie became the throughline of the project.

BigX and Ella Langley

Once word spread that he was making a full body of country-inspired work, demos started rolling in. “Everybody already knew I had the Jelly Rolls, the Combs, the Shaboozeys. But people wanted to be a part of it. The ones I chose were the ones I really felt at the time. You could tell they were going through something too.”

For BigX, I Hope You’re Happy was never about trend-chasing. It was about honesty. Early in the process, a friend told him country music was “just heartbreak and whiskey.” At first, he didn’t get it — but then life caught up. “The heartbreak happened in the middle of me making the project. That’s when I understood. And it helped me finish it.”

The album carries that weight, balancing moments of pain with loyalty, pride and resilience. Tracks like “All the Way” (with Bailey Zimmerman), “Pray Hard” (with Combs) and “Home” (with Shaboozey) highlight his ability to fold country’s storytelling tradition into his own voice without losing what makes him distinct. And while his hip-hop fans might have raised an eyebrow at first, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “They’re supporting it 100%,” he says of his fans. “Because I’m not changing what I do. The inspiration might be different, but my voice and my storytelling are still there.”

YouTube video

BigX is careful not to frame this as a permanent reinvention. Instead, he sees I Hope You’re Happy as a creative chapter — a chance to expand his artistry without boxing himself into a new genre label. “Fans shouldn’t expect a ‘country era,’” he says. “Just more music that’s true to whatever story I’m living next.”

For now, the story is one of bridges — not just the iconic Dallas Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge that inspired the “Home” video, but also the bridge between two genres and two communities. In country, BigX found not only collaborators but also acceptance.

“Way more than I thought I would,” he says when asked if he’s felt embraced. “Way more.”

LB Cantrell
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