BigXthaPlug Takes Over Rolling Stone’s Future of Music at SXSW

SXSW 2026 brought one of its most anticipated nights to ACL Live at the Moody Theater on March 14 as Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase closed out its three-night run with a Texas-sized finale. Headlined by BigXthaPlug and featuring performances from his 600 Entertainment collective and Ink, the concert highlighted the growing influence of Texas artists across hip-hop.

From the barricade, the pace never dipped as the night was fast paced from the start as each artist stepped onstage to immediate reactions with the crowd feeding off every beat. Moody Theater stayed in motion with fans shouting along before the next artist even hit the stage.

600 Entertainment Showcase

The night opened with BigXthaPlug’s Dallas-based collective, 600 Entertainment. There was no gradual buildup as the energy took hold immediately and excitement rose amongst the crowd.

KevanGotBandz, a rising voice within 600 Entertainment, is known for his rapid flow that hits even harder live. He came out first with a fiery performance that set the pace right away. His confidence onstage made it clear that he’s already carving out his place in the Texas rap scene as he moved through tracks like “I’m Serious,” “Ain’t Never Slowing Down” and “Shine.”

KaineMusic followed with a confident, swagger-filled set. As the lone female MC, She left the crowd buzzing as she ended her performance with her commanding single “Do It.”

Murdagang PB and Yung Hood followed and pushed the showcase into a full sprint. Both artists have been building momentum within the Dallas scene and have become pillars of the 600 Entertainment collective. The two traded verses and hyped up the energy with each track performing songs like “24 Hours” and “Two Player.”

INK

Before BigXThaPlug closed the night, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ink took the stage with a performance that pulled the room in a different direction without slowing the motion. Known offstage as Atia Boggs, the Atlanta-raised performer has spent years behind the scenes crafting tracks for Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Jennifer Lopez.

Ink opened with selections from her 2025 album Big Buskin as she blended country, pop and hip-hop in a way that felt entirely her own. She eased into her set with a calm confidence that contrasted the extremely energetic energy that had defined the earlier performances.

Midway through the set, Ink surprised the room by slipping into Béyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” a track she helped compose. The crowd recognized the song instantly with a ripple of excitement that spread all the way from the barricade to the balcony.

She closed with “Hoedown,” a country party anthem that let her fully lean into the playful side of her sound. Her performance offered a perfect contrast before the night surged back into full-throttle Texas rap for BigXThaPlug’s finale.

BigXThaPlug

By the time BigXThaPlug hit the stage, the room felt like it had been holding its breath in anticipation as phones shot up and the crowd rushed the barricade. The Dallas rapper didn’t waste a second easing into it. He walked out with the confidence of someone that knows it’s his night to close.

He dove into songs from his third studio album I Hope You’re Happy that paired his booming delivery with more country-leaning melodies. He occasionally tossed moments to members of his 600 Entertainment crew posted at the side of the stage.

The turning points in his performance came in moments like those when he dropped his signature adlib “AYE” and peeled off his shirt and the entire room surged forward. He then pivoted into his music that put him on the map with songs like “Back On My BS,” “Mhmm” and “Texas” as his performance hit with a weight that recordings don’t fully capture and makes you understand why he has become a Texas staple.

One of the night’s most memorable moments was when a young fan named Braxton was lifted onto the stage as BigX let him take the hook. Braxton delivered it without hesitation and the crowd erupted. By the time BigX walked off the stage, shirtless and grinning, the room looked exactly how he sounded: proud, loud and convinced that Texas rap is only getting bigger from here.

Conclusion

By the end of the night, Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase felt like a snapshot of where Texas rap is heading. The 600 Entertainment roster set the tone with high-energy performances that showed just how deep the Dallas rap scene is running right now. Ink followed with a sharp, vocally-rich set that reminded the audience Southern music isn’t exclusive to just one lane.

BigXThaPlug closed the night out with a full-throttle celebration of Texas rap that was loud and chaotic in the best way, full of moments the crowd was sure to remember. If SXSW is about catching the next wave early, this showcase made it clear that Texas knows exactly where it’s headed.