Drake gave a visibility boost to rising rapper BigXThaPlug by sharing his Instagram Story to promote the artist’s latest album announcement, tagging it with a Texas emoji. BigXThaPlug is set to drop I Hope You’re Happy on Friday, August 22. The 11-track project reportedly includes guest appearances from Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Darius Rucker, Bailey Zimmerman, Ella Langley, Ink, Tucker Wetmore, and Thomas Rhett.
The move sparked mixed reactions in the comments when DJ Akdemiks reposted Drake’s Story. Some fans praised Drake’s co-sign as a valuable platform that can elevate an artist’s career, while others questioned Drake’s pattern of linking with up-and-coming acts to grow his algorithm and fanbase. One commenter wrote, “He got Drake co-sign he good. Drake don’t do nothing but add value to yo career,” while another added a critique about Drake’s associations and the perception of his influence online.
BigXThaPlug himself has spoken positively about Drake in the past. In an appearance on The New York Times’ Popcast, he praised Drake after seeing him perform at Wireless Festival and commended the effort Drake puts into his concerts.
In other developments, BigXThaPlug recently teased more high-profile activity, including a separate note that he would join NBA YoungBoy on the MASA Tour after Lil Baby’s tour concluded.
Drake is also gearing up for a new solo album, titled Iceman. He has been promoting the project for months but has not announced a firm release date. There’s even chatter from outside the music world—Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel implied a potential October or November release window during recent talk.
Why this matters: The public exchange underscores Drake’s continued influence in elevating new voices across genres and markets, while BigXThaPlug is leveraging that exposure to build anticipation for a cross-genre lineup that includes country and hip-hop artists. The collaborations on I Hope You’re Happy could appeal to fans of both rap and country, broadening the listener base for both the artist and the featured guests.
If you’re following the cross-pollination between hip-hop and country, this moment highlights how a major artist’s social reach can amplify a rising act, while the anticipation around Drake’s own Iceman album keeps fans watching for major releases later in the year.
Summary: Drake’s Instagram support for BigXThaPlug’s upcoming album announcement, the mixed fan reactions, and BigXThaPlug’s own past praise of Drake, combined with Drake’s ongoing Iceman project, illustrate a dynamic moment of cross-genre collaboration and promotional momentum in the current music landscape.
Optional note for editors: Consider adding a quick explainer box about who all the featured guests are (especially non-traditional hip-hop collaborators) to help casual readers understand the cross-genre appeal of the project. Also, if possible, include a short timeline graphic showing dates for I Hope You’re Happy and the Iceman rollout as the dates firm up.