BigXthaPlug

BigXthaPlug Artistfacts

  • May 12, 1998
  • BigXthaPlug is a rapper known for a deep, booming voice, percussive flow, and vivid storytelling rooted in Southern rap traditions.
  • BigXthaPlug, born Xavier Landum in Dallas, Texas, credits his diverse musical upbringing for his sound. His mother, also a Texas native, schooled him on the hard-hitting Southern rap of UGK and Lil Wayne, while his father's influence leaned towards the smooth grooves of the Isley Brothers and other R&B mainstays.
  • Big X was a standout football player at Ferris High School and played briefly for Crown College in Minnesota before shifting to music.
  • His gritty, street-hardened 2020 debut EP, Bacc From the Dead, lit the spark. The self-released project landed on the radar of UnitedMasters A&R Aaron Hunter, who, after flooding BigX's inbox with DMs, flew to Texas for a face-to-face. The meeting spot was a birthday bash for the rapper's cousin at Chuck E. Cheese. That unlikely intro led to a 2021 deal with UnitedMasters.
  • BigX spent time in prison for burglary and aggravated battery in 2022, including a period spent in solitary confinement. Rather than succumbing to the isolation, he channeled the experience into creative output, writing lyrics on medical-grade paper and diligently reading the dictionary. Reflecting on the time, he admitted to Billboard, "I tried to read the Bible but I couldn't do it."
  • Following his release later in 2022, things clicked into place. BigXthaPlug established his own imprint, 600 Entertainment, signing artists like Ro$ama and Yung Hood. He also joined Key Glock on tour and forged a strong collaborative relationship with producer Bandplay.
  • His debut album, Amar, released in February 2023, was named after his son and explores themes of family and fatherhood.
  • Released on October 6, 2023, "Mmhmm" became his first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #65. The song gained popularity through its catchy sample of The Whispers' "And The Beat Goes On" and widespread use on TikTok, where it was featured in over 20,000 clips.

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