Dallas Rapper BigXThaPlug Arrested on Marijuana and Gun Charges on Album Release Day
Dallas rapper BigXThaPlug made national headlines after his arrest on alleged marijuana and gun charges coincided with the release of his new album, I Hope You’re Happy. The incident occurred on Saturday, August 30, and BigXThaPlug described it as “wrong place, wrong time” during his first public response at the SneakerCon event.
He later detailed the events on his Twitch livestream. The rapper, who has also explored country music, was pulled over for not having a front license plate. A subsequent search led to marijuana and gun charges, which were influenced by his status as a registered gang member in the Dallas police system. Authorities presented him with options based on his gang affiliation: go directly to jail or cooperate at police headquarters for questioning. BigXThaPlug agreed to the latter.
“You’re in the system as a gang member,” he explained in a TikTok clip about the arrest. “So, it’s either going to go two ways. We can either take you straight to jail, right now, or you can come with us to the headquarters, we can ask you a couple of questions, and we’ll let you go. We just need to try and see if you’re a gang member or not. I said, ok, bet.”
At headquarters, BigXThaPlug recounted being questioned for four hours while investigators played his music, including his 2021 track “Safehouse.” “They didn’t do nothing but play my music. For four hours, they played my music,” he said. “As soon as the beat started… I said, ‘Bruh, like y’all wanted to take me to jail?’ Everything y’all have asked from me, I’ve had something for it, so what the f*ck? Y’all just tryna take me to jail.”
Frustrated by the lack of response from investigators, BigXThaPlug requested to be taken to jail. “He just acts like he wasn’t listening to me no more, just trying to let the music play out,” he said. “I’m like ‘Man, turn that sh*t off… y’all might as well go ahead and take me to jail.’”
BigXThaPlug spent one night in Dallas County Jail and was released on a $5,000 bond on August 23. His attorney, Valerie Baston, told CBS News that the legal team will work to prevent the misdemeanor charges from being elevated to felonies. “We’re going to wait to see the affidavit,” Baston said. “But, we’re going to work vigorously for our client because it just is what it is. It’s two misdemeanors, and people are trying to make it a felony.”
The arrest has drawn attention not only for its timing with the album release but also for the unusual circumstances of the encounter, highlighting the challenges artists can face navigating law enforcement while maintaining their careers.
