Texas standout BigXthaPlug’s career skyrocketed shortly after he emerged in 2022, becoming Dallas’ next great hope by 2024. His first album, 2023’s Amar, established him as a bona fide star, but rapping is no longer his main focus. BigX is a proud father of two, and everything he does (rap included) is to give his children things he was never afforded. On 2024’s TAKE CARE, he makes clear where his priorities lie. “My kids is what drives me,” he tells Apple Music’s Ebro Darden. “That’s the reason when I’m tired and I get up every day when I don’t want to get up, they’re the reason.” This album, as such, is for the next generation. Yes, he raps his ass off and showcases why he’s one of Texas’ most celebrated stars, but more important than acclaim and fame is making sure the mouths that rely on him are adequately fed. “My little boy, he made me realize, ‘Okay, life is for real. This is a real thing.’” That seriousness makes its way onto TAKE CARE, like on “Therapy Session.” X showcases his signature Southern drawl over cheery piano chords, stinging handclaps, and soaring guitar solos. He lays out the stakes for the entire record, paying tribute to his two children: “My family rely/When I be away from ’em I cry/’Cause I love ’em the most, I’d hate for them ever to say that their daddy wasn’t right on they side,” he raps. “I feel like I see the whole world,” he says. “I really understand why we’re here.”