Capping His Momentum As Billboard Country’s Innovator Of The Year And His Stand-Out Debut Performances At CMA Fest, Wireless Festival, Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel, Coachella & Stagecoach
Multi-platinum Dallas native and breakout hip-hop star BigXthaPlug revealed the cover art for his upcoming album I Hope You’re Happy, set for release on August 22. The announcement came via Instagram this afternoon and signals a striking new direction for the rising star, as he steps boldly into country-inspired territory. Known for his commanding presence and signature Southern sound, BigXthaPlug continues to push musical boundaries, this time by weaving country influences into his hard-hitting hip-hop roots. I Hope You’re Happy is set to showcase this unexpected fusion, further cementing his reputation as one of music’s most unpredictable and genre-defying voices.
The newly revealed cover art features a moody, blue-tinted portrait of BigXthaPlug holding a small bouquet of flowers, an image that hints at the depth and contrast fans can expect from the upcoming project. The announcement follows a surge of momentum for BigX, fresh off a standout performance at Osheaga Festival in Montreal, with a highly anticipated set at Outside Lands Festival up next. He also recently teased his forthcoming single, “Hell At Night,” on Instagram, adding to the growing anticipation around this next chapter.
The ‘I Hope You’re Happy’ album release will cap off a season of mass success for BigXthaPlug, adding to a lineup of huge debut performances at Wireless Festival, Dreamville Fest, Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Gov Ball, and Stagecoach, where he performed alongside Shaboozey and Jelly Roll. It also follows his recent campaign with the Autism Society of America, using his platform to advocate for awareness, inclusion, and support in honor of his son during Autism Acceptance Month.
It’s been a banner year for BigX. Earlier this year, his hit “Change Me” became the official team anthem of the Philadelphia Eagles, who celebrated with BigX’s performance at their Super Bowl Winners Afterparty. His track “The Largest” is currently sitting at No. 1 on Urban Radio, and his platinum-certified album Take Care has dominated best-of lists from Rolling Stone, NPR, Complex, Revolt, and HipHopDX. His newest single and music video release, “Home,” featuring Shaboozey, gained reaction for shutting down the iconic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas, TX. This follows the release of his Billboard Hot 100 country debut “All the Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman, and a legendary music video for his song “Life of A Boss”. He also just graced the cover of GQ HYPE and Billboard’s ‘Genre Now’ Issue and took home XXL’s Best New Artist of the Year. Following his sold-out 32-city North American tour, BigX is proving he’s not just here to stay, he’s here to evolve.
ABOUT BIGXTHAPLUG
BigXthaPlug, the rising star out of Dallas, Texas, is rapidly cementing his place as one of hip-hop’s most magnetic and genre-bending voices. Known for his raw storytelling, unapologetic lyrics, and undeniable presence on the mic, he’s reshaping what modern hip-hop can look and sound like. His RIAA platinum-certified singles “Texas,” “Mmhmm,” and “Levels” laid the foundation for his breakthrough sophomore album, Take Care. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 48,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, quickly dominating streaming platforms and earning praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, Billboard, Complex, and more. Take Care has since amassed over 3 billion streams, with hit single “Mmhmm” landing at No. 5 on Apple Music’s Rap Life: Best of 2024 and Spotify’s Top Tracks of 2024 (U.S. and globally). Meanwhile, “The Largest” earned a spot on Apple Music’s Rap Life: Best of 2024 and Amazon Music’s Best Hip-Hop of 2024 and Best Songs of 2024 playlists.
As Take Care Deluxe dropped, BigX was recognized as XXL’s 2025 Best New Artist, a 2025 iHeartRadio Best New Rap Artist nominee, Amazon Music’s 2024 Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist, and a standout member of the XXL 2024 Freshman Class. He’s already delivered showstopping performances at the NFL Eagles Philadelphia Super Bowl Winner Party, Rolling Loud 2025, and Dreamville Fest 2025, proving he’s a must-see force on any stage. BigX’s Take Care North American Tour sold out 30 venues and drew over 35,000 fans, with the sold-out energy extending into Take Care Canada, underscoring his fast-growing international appeal.
This year, he brought that momentum overseas for his first-ever European run, performing at Wireless Festival, Openair Festival, Slottsfjell Festival, and Lollapalooza Berlin , a landmark moment connecting his Texas roots with global crowds. Adding to his unstoppable rise, BigXthaPlug has also made a splash in the country music scene with his breakout hit “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman , which debuted at No. 1 on Spotify’s USA Charts, hit No. 2 on Apple Music, reached No. 4 globally on Spotify, and soared to No. 1 on YouTube’s Trending Top Music Videos chart. As a surprise to fans, BigX brought the single to life with a buzzworthy live performance at CMA Fest, further solidifying his country crossover. He followed up with “Home” featuring Shaboozey , another bold step blending country storytelling with hip-hop grit , and has teamed up with country’s biggest breakout names like Jessie Murph for “Holy Ground” and Teddy Swims for “All Gas No Breaks,” fusing raw country emotion with his Texas-rooted hip-hop energy.
In recognition of his genre-blurring impact, BigX was honored with the Billboard Country Innovator of the Year Award 2025 and a Billboard Future Genre Cover spotlight. He also graced the cover of GQ Hype and delivered a standout performance on Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel, was honored on EBONY’s 2025 Headliners List, and was nominated for BET Awards 2025 Best New Artist of the Year, showing just how far his star power reaches across music and culture. Fans can catch BigX continuing to break boundaries on stage , from Coachella 2025, Stagecoach 2025, Lollapalooza Berlin 2025, and Wireless Festival 2025, Somewhere Festival, Sand in My Boots Festival, to to upcoming sets at Outside Lands 2025, Oshega Festival, Bootheel Rodeo, and as an opener on Druski’s wildly popular Could’ve Been Records Tour and more , adding yet another unprecedented chapter to a story that’s only just getting started.
Photo Credit: Mark Clennon
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