BigXthaPlug Says Country Artists Have The Unity Hip-Hop Lacks

BigXthaPlug said country artists made more room for real friendships than rappers did, pointing to the time they spent together away from work.

On the October 28 episode of “Club Shay Shay,” Shannon Sharpe asked the Dallas rapper about unity across the two genres. BigX described a Hip-Hop scene divided by cities, naming Atlanta, Miami and New York as examples of separate rap circles.

“the difference with a country artist is that you can catch those two artists drinking beer at a bar on a random Wednesday, just cause,” BigX said.

He contrasted that with rap gatherings he believed were arranged by labels rather than built on friendships away from work. He also described a more relaxed backstage experience at Stagecoach than Rolling Loud.

Those relationships helped shape I Hope You’re Happy, his country project released in August 2025. Luke Combs and Jelly Roll supported him before he committed to making the record.

Combs connected with BigX after a sold-out Houston show and expressed interest in working together. Their friendship even extended to watches, with Combs’ collection influencing what BigX bought. As more artists learned about the country project, BigX received demos and chose songs that connected with what he was feeling.

In a separate MusicRow interview around that album’s release, he explained why his move into country did not require him to change his identity.

“Because I’m not changing what I do. The inspiration might be different, but my voice and my storytelling are still there,” he said.

The album paired him with Bailey Zimmerman on “All the Way,” Combs on “Pray Hard” and Shaboozey on “Home.” Asked about his fans, BigX said, “They’re supporting it 100%.” His own heartbreak during the recording process helped him understand the country material and gave him a way to finish the project.

His recent work kept him connected to rap collaborators as well. He gave Dallas fans an early listen to Better Over Time on October 26, pairing the new music with a short film screening.

The 18-song album was released on October 30. Lil Yachty, GloRilla, Leon Thomas and Babyface Ray were among its collaborators, giving BigX another chance to work with artists from across the rap scene.