This Ain’t Your Grandpa’s Country: BigXthaPlug and the New Wave of Texas Heat

By Ajay Benmoin

Photo Credits (left to right): BigXthaPlug, That Mexican OT, Wacotron

Texas twang takes on a whole new meaning as a new generation of rappers redefines what the Lone Star sound really is.

With rising artists like BigXthaPlug, Ro$ama, That Mexican OT and Wacotron stepping into the spotlight, Texas rap is having a moment—and it’s loud, unapologetic and unfiltered.

BigXthaPlug is leading the charge with a sound that’s as heavy as it is heartfelt. His booming delivery and punchy flow hit like a freight train, but underneath the bravado is a rawness that speaks to his come-up. There’s nothing polished or sugarcoated about his tracks—they’re meant to be felt in your chest, blasted through car speakers, windows down. Whether he’s rapping about struggle, success, or the streets that raised him, his authenticity makes it all hit harder.

He’s not just staying in one lane either. BigXthaPlug’s collaboration with Bailey Zimmerman on All the Way is a genre-bending moment—blurring the line between rap and country in a way that feels natural, not forced.

By merging the sounds of past and present with samples from classics like Let It Whip by Dazz Band and Didn’t Cha Know by Erykah Badu, he’s reaching audiences who might not have given Texas rap a second thought. But once the classic samples reel you in, it’s his hard-hitting bars and magnetic flow that keep you hooked.

While BigXthaPlug is kicking down doors with crossover appeal and undeniable presence, he’s far from the only one making noise in the Lone Star State.

Ro$ama brings a sharp, menacing energy to the mic. His flow is cold and calculated, often laid over beats that feel like they belong in a midnight car chase. Rooted in street realism and Southern cadence, Ro$ama’s music doesn’t just tell stories—it commands attention with every bar.

If Ro$ama is the storm in the shadows, That Mexican OT is the wild spark that lights the fire—who takes a different approach while staying true to that Texas grit. He infuses his music with regional pride and lyrical dexterity, bouncing between rapid-fire verses and slowed-down drawls that echo Texas’s cultural blend. His sound is rowdy, clever, and effortlessly bilingual—bridging gaps between trap and Tejano swagger with charisma to spare.

Rounding out the pack is Wacotron, who delivers a sound that’s both grounded and cinematic. He adds a level of introspective polish to the mix without sacrificing impact. His voice is steady and confident, his bars laced with reflections on street life and ambition. There’s a weight to his delivery that speaks to real-life experience, but he never sacrifices the bounce that makes Southern rap feel alive.

Texas has always been home to icons—Travis Scott, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion—but this new wave is bringing back that dirty South energy. It's the soundtrack to late-night drives, backroad kickbacks, and bar fights waiting to happen. This isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement.

Together, these artists are rewriting the narrative of what Texas rap can be. They’re not just paying homage to legends like Bun B, Scarface, and UGK—they’re forging a new lane that’s grittier, bolder, and genre-defying. BigXthaPlug, Ro$ama, That Mexican OT, and Wacotron aren’t just riding the wave—they’re creating it. This new era of Texas sound brings back that dirty South energy that makes your heart race and your speakers shake. It's raw, it's exciting, and it’s unmistakably Texas.

Want to hear it for yourself? Tap into the sound of the South with the Texas Twang playlist—featuring BigXthaPlug, Ro$ama, That Mexican OT, Wacotron, and more.

🎧 Listen on Spotify and feel the new Texas energy for yourself.