Latest news with #BigXthaPlug
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Wireless fans say it's 'not for weak' as 'packed like sardines' reality shown
Wireless Festival returned for its 20th year with Canadian rapper Drake headlining all three days of the event at Finsbury Park, London, but one festival-goer has shared the claustrophobic reality A Wireless festival-goer has declared the event 'isn't for the weak' after footage shows him in a tightly packed crowd and really struggling to move. The popular festival returned for the 20th year, taking over Finsbury Park in London. For the first time, Wireless had one artist performing three set lists across the three days, seeing Canadian rapper Drake take to the stage on Friday, July 11, Saturday, July 12 and the final day of the hip hop festival, Sunday, July 13. The artist has been accompanied by an eclectic mix of special guests including Vanessa Carlton, Yeat, Central Cee and more. More than 15,000 people are said to descend on London over the course of the three day weekend to catch artists including Summer Walker, Leon Thomas, kwn, Sailorr, Boy Better Know, BigXthaPlug and many more. Festivals are known for being busy, bustling places with a large turnout of people keen to enjoy live music and the laidback atmosphere so commonly associated with such events. One festival-goer has offered a 'nightmare' insight into their experience in the crowd, though - and it's not for the faint of heart. In the claustrophobic clip, which was shared to TikTok, the Wireless fan can be seen standing in the crowd with other festival-goers closely packed around him. He doesn't appear to have much room to move, as he extends one arm to record the moment while his other appears to be pinned to his side by his co-attendees. Fellow ticket holders also look as though they can't move, as the crowd sways and throbs as one. Over the top of the footage, he penned: 'POV: you survived eight hours on your feet in 30°C heat, packed like sardines, getting shoved around whilst holding your bladder in'. In the caption, he added: 'Wireless ain't for the weak'. In the comments section, people shared their thoughts with the general consensus being that of dread over being in similar circumstances. One person said: 'The heat, the BO, everyone's sweat on me, yeah hell NO' while another simply declared: 'Couldn't pay me to go'. A third said: 'This is an actual nightmare, you'll never catch me in these places'. Someone else commented: 'Personal hell [crying laughing emoji] sat at home and saved all the videos so I was basically there lmao'. Another shared: 'I no longer feel jealous that I wasn't there'. Echoing such sentiments, another person said: 'This is my worst nightmare. I'd have to leave due to being over stimulated and wanting to fight everyone'. One Wireless attendee shared: 'I literally felt like I was gonna pass out at one point, I had to move out of the crowd'. And another festival-goer pondered: '[I don't know] how you guys did this, I was sat under a tree for half the day and still fought for my life'. To which, the original poster replied: 'I don't even know how I [filmed] it, Wireless taught [me] resilience and strength'. Another added: 'Like this is the part they don't be showing cos festivals are not for the weak'. Wireless festival shared advice regarding the heat ahead of the festival. They said: "Stay hydrated. Wear suitable clothing for the hot weather - hat, sunglasses. Wear sunscreen - bottles of sunscreen up to 200ml are permitted. Sunscreen will also be available at medical and info points. Sealed water and soft drinks up to 500ml are permitted, one per person. Bring an empty plastic refillable bottle or coffee cup. Waterpoints will be available around the site. Metal bottles are not permitted into the festival." Wireless Festival has been approached for a comment.
Leader Live
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Drake hails London MCs as ‘the best lyricists in the world' during Wireless set
The Canadian superstar, 38, brought out UK heavyweights Dave, Central Cee and J Hus as surprise guests during his performance on the main stage in Finsbury Park. 'London rappers are the best lyricists in the world,' he said during his set. 'No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers. 'This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.' The boy is home 😌 Round 2 tonight if you're not here where tf are you — Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) July 12, 2025 It marked Drake's return to full-scale UK shows and the second of three back-to-back headline sets – a Wireless first – after he signed a multimillion-pound deal to top the bill each night of the festival. The crowd erupted as each guest act appeared on stage, with fans singing along to some of the country's biggest rap anthems as temperatures remained high into the evening following a scorching 29C day. Earlier, grime collective Boy Better Know, along with BigXthaPlug, Lancey Foux, Nemzzz and DJ AG, took to the main stage, warming up the crowd ahead of Drake's set. Away from the main arena, JME and Big Zuu delivered a surprise performance at the Owl and Crown – a makeshift pub inside the VIP section, named as a nod to the owl logo of Drake's OVO label. The pair performed grime and garage staples including A Little Bit of Luck and Serious in an unannounced set. Celebrity guests including former Love Island contestant and basketball star Ovie Soko and ex-footballer Clinton Morrison were spotted in the crowd. Drake's set featured tracks from across his career – including Nonstop, Know Yourself, and God's Plan. The rapper signed a multimillion-pound deal to headline all three nights of Wireless this year – a first for any artist – with his run at the north London festival forming part of his ongoing 2025 tour. Friday night saw Lauryn Hill join him on stage in a surprise cameo, but Saturday's show had a distinctly British feel, with fans singing along to tracks from the country's biggest rap and grime stars. Wireless continues on Sunday, with Drake set to close the weekend for a third and final night.
South Wales Guardian
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Drake hails London MCs as ‘the best lyricists in the world' during Wireless set
The Canadian superstar, 38, brought out UK heavyweights Dave, Central Cee and J Hus as surprise guests during his performance on the main stage in Finsbury Park. 'London rappers are the best lyricists in the world,' he said during his set. 'No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers. 'This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.' The boy is home 😌 Round 2 tonight if you're not here where tf are you — Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) July 12, 2025 It marked Drake's return to full-scale UK shows and the second of three back-to-back headline sets – a Wireless first – after he signed a multimillion-pound deal to top the bill each night of the festival. The crowd erupted as each guest act appeared on stage, with fans singing along to some of the country's biggest rap anthems as temperatures remained high into the evening following a scorching 29C day. Earlier, grime collective Boy Better Know, along with BigXthaPlug, Lancey Foux, Nemzzz and DJ AG, took to the main stage, warming up the crowd ahead of Drake's set. Away from the main arena, JME and Big Zuu delivered a surprise performance at the Owl and Crown – a makeshift pub inside the VIP section, named as a nod to the owl logo of Drake's OVO label. The pair performed grime and garage staples including A Little Bit of Luck and Serious in an unannounced set. Celebrity guests including former Love Island contestant and basketball star Ovie Soko and ex-footballer Clinton Morrison were spotted in the crowd. Drake's set featured tracks from across his career – including Nonstop, Know Yourself, and God's Plan. The rapper signed a multimillion-pound deal to headline all three nights of Wireless this year – a first for any artist – with his run at the north London festival forming part of his ongoing 2025 tour. Friday night saw Lauryn Hill join him on stage in a surprise cameo, but Saturday's show had a distinctly British feel, with fans singing along to tracks from the country's biggest rap and grime stars. Wireless continues on Sunday, with Drake set to close the weekend for a third and final night.
Rhyl Journal
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Drake hails London MCs as ‘the best lyricists in the world' during Wireless set
The Canadian superstar, 38, brought out UK heavyweights Dave, Central Cee and J Hus as surprise guests during his performance on the main stage in Finsbury Park. 'London rappers are the best lyricists in the world,' he said during his set. 'No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers. 'This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.' The boy is home 😌 Round 2 tonight if you're not here where tf are you — Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) July 12, 2025 It marked Drake's return to full-scale UK shows and the second of three back-to-back headline sets – a Wireless first – after he signed a multimillion-pound deal to top the bill each night of the festival. The crowd erupted as each guest act appeared on stage, with fans singing along to some of the country's biggest rap anthems as temperatures remained high into the evening following a scorching 29C day. Earlier, grime collective Boy Better Know, along with BigXthaPlug, Lancey Foux, Nemzzz and DJ AG, took to the main stage, warming up the crowd ahead of Drake's set. Away from the main arena, JME and Big Zuu delivered a surprise performance at the Owl and Crown – a makeshift pub inside the VIP section, named as a nod to the owl logo of Drake's OVO label. The pair performed grime and garage staples including A Little Bit of Luck and Serious in an unannounced set. Celebrity guests including former Love Island contestant and basketball star Ovie Soko and ex-footballer Clinton Morrison were spotted in the crowd. Drake's set featured tracks from across his career – including Nonstop, Know Yourself, and God's Plan. The rapper signed a multimillion-pound deal to headline all three nights of Wireless this year – a first for any artist – with his run at the north London festival forming part of his ongoing 2025 tour. Friday night saw Lauryn Hill join him on stage in a surprise cameo, but Saturday's show had a distinctly British feel, with fans singing along to tracks from the country's biggest rap and grime stars. Wireless continues on Sunday, with Drake set to close the weekend for a third and final night.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Bailey Zimmerman, BigXthaPlug created CMA Fest's top crossover moment
On the closing night of CMA Fest 2025, Bailey Zimmerman welcomed BigXthaPlug to the stage with him to perform their song "All The Way." The 27-year-old Dallas rapper, born Xavier Landum, rapped alongside the 25-year-old country singer, who is best known for songs "Rock and a Hard Place" and "Religiously." Zimmerman and BigX joined Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan for the bill on the festival's fourth night at Nashville's Nissan Stadium. Their performance is also part of ABC's three-hour TV special airing on June 26. CMA Fest 2025 on ABC: How to watch, stream special hosted by Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson The crowd burst into applause when Zimmerman called BigX out to perform their genre-blending collaboration, which released in April as the lead single from BigX's upcoming EP. "All The Way" brings together elements of pop-country and hip-hop, partnering trap beats with twangy choruses on the heartbreak tune. "Don't let me down easy, if you're gonna leave me / Baby, go and leave me all the way," Zimmerman sings. "Said you'd try and hold on 'cause the love was so strong, now I'm standing alone this kitchen / Singin' sad songs, but I'm knowin' that this s*** don't last long," BigX raps. "If you leavin', then leave 'cause your bags gone / But just know, you can never come back home." The tune marks another successful country-hip-hop crossover in an increasingly genre-bending musical landscape. Other artists who have paved the way by marrying the two genres include Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Nelly, and Lil Nas X. CMA Fest 2026 will be held from June 4-7, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. The four-night stadium passes went on sale June 26 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster. Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bailey Zimmerman and BigXthaPlug's genre-blending CMA Fest moment
