BigXthaPlug Arrested for Misdemeanor Drug Charge After Traffic Stop

Arlington Police Department

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug, a rising star in hip-hop, was arrested early Wednesday on a misdemeanor marijuana charge after police pulled him over for expired registration, authorities said.

BigXthaPlug, whose real name is Xavier Landum, was driving on North Collins Street just after midnight when an Arlington, Texas, police officer stopped his vehicle. As the officer approached, they reported smelling marijuana coming from the car.

According to police, Landum and his passenger, 22-year-old Cleodist Landum, were ordered to step out of the vehicle. A search of the car uncovered cigarettes, a green leafy substance in the center console, and a handgun in the passenger-side door pocket.

Passenger Had Outstanding Felony Warrant

Further investigation revealed Cleodist Landum had an active felony warrant out of Bexar County for failing to appear in court. He was taken into custody on the warrant, as well as additional charges of possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a weapon, after officers found cannabis on him.

Xavier Landum was also arrested and booked into Arlington City Jail on a misdemeanor charge of possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. He was later released.

Wouldn’t Have Faced Arrest in Dallas

The location of the arrest played a significant role in the outcome. While Arlington police arrested Landum, Dallas law enforcement does not detain or issue citations for marijuana possession under four ounces. Had the traffic stop taken place just a few miles away in Dallas, BigXthaPlug likely wouldn’t have been taken into custody.

From Viral Stardom to Legal Troubles

BigXthaPlug has emerged as one of Texas’ most talked-about artists, with his breakout hit "Texas" amassing more than 200 million streams across Spotify and YouTube.

His 2024 album "Take Care" was named one of NPR’s 50 Best Albums of the Year, and he was honored as a XXL Freshman, solidifying his national recognition. His music is a staple at Texas sports venues, with franchises like the Texas Rangers frequently playing his songs during games.

The arrest comes at a critical moment for the Dallas-based rapper, who is set to join Lil Baby’s WHAM World Tour this June. The second stop of the tour is at Dallas’ American Airlines Center, making it a highly anticipated homecoming performance.

‘Killing Me Softly’ Singer Roberta Flack Dies at 88, Leaves Behind Timeless Legacy

Roberta Flack in 1976.

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer known for classics like "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," has died at 88, her representatives confirmed Monday.

Flack passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, according to a statement from her longtime publicist Elaine Schock. The legendary vocalist had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which she revealed in 2022 had made singing impossible.

Flack’s musical career was defined by a unique blend of soul, jazz, pop, and folk influences, carried by a voice that was both intimate and powerful. Though largely unknown before her early 30s, she became an overnight star when Clint Eastwood featured her rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in his 1971 directorial debut, "Play Misty for Me." The ballad soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year and won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1973.

Born Feb. 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Flack was a musical prodigy who won a scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. Though she initially aspired to be a concert pianist, she eventually shifted to singing, drawing inspiration from gospel, jazz, and R&B. Discovered by jazz musician Les McCann while performing at a Washington, D.C. nightclub, she was signed to Atlantic Records, where she recorded First Take in 1969, an album that would later catapult her to stardom.

Her success continued throughout the 1970s with a string of hits, including "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which became her signature track and won her a second consecutive Grammy for Record of the Year in 1974 — a feat no other solo artist had achieved at the time. She followed with "Feel Like Makin' Love," which became her third No. 1 single.

Flack also formed a celebrated musical partnership with fellow Howard University alumnus Donny Hathaway. The duo released beloved duets such as "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You." Their collaboration ended tragically in 1979 when Hathaway died after a fall from a New York hotel room.

In the 1980s, Flack reinvented herself by teaming up with Peabo Bryson, scoring another hit with "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." She later found renewed success in the 1990s when the Fugees’ Lauryn Hill-led cover of "Killing Me Softly" became a global sensation.

Her influence extended beyond music. In 1999, Flack received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and later performed for Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Throughout her career, she remained an advocate for music education, mentoring young artists and supporting various educational initiatives.

Flack’s impact on popular music and her ability to convey deep emotion through song cemented her place as one of the most revered vocalists of all time. In a statement, her longtime manager Suzanne Koga reflected on her legacy: “Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

Flack is survived by her family, close friends, and generations of artists inspired by her work.

Rapper Yung Joc Mourns Loss of Relatives in Deadly Atlanta Apartment Fire

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the family of 9-month-old Xhalia White, 1-year-old Xyla White, and 4-year-old Jhacari White, who died after an apartment fire in Atlanta on Feb. 19. Rapper Yung Joc, who confirmed the children were his relatives, spoke emotionally about the tragedy on his radio show. (Photo via GoFundMe)

Atlanta rapper and radio host Yung Joc is mourning the loss of three young relatives who died after a fire swept through an apartment in southwest Atlanta earlier this week. The musician, born Jasiel Amon Robinson, confirmed during his Streetz 94.5 morning radio show that the victims — 4-year-old Jhacari White, 1-year-old Xyla White, and 9-month-old Xhalia White — were his nieces and nephew.

The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at the Country Oaks Apartments on Fairburn Road. Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke coming from a second-floor unit, but by the time the fire was extinguished, the children had already been rescued. They were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment, but tragically succumbed to smoke inhalation, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue. Authorities are investigating the cause, though early reports suggest it may have been electrical.

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Joc, who attended a candlelight vigil outside the charred apartment on Wednesday night, revealed on-air that the gathering was particularly emotional because February 20 would have been Xyla’s second birthday.

“I’m hurting. My family’s hurting. My brother’s hurting. His girlfriend’s hurting,” he said during "Yung Joc and The Streetz Morning Takeover." “I don’t think it’s really hit just yet. I think they’re still in shock a little.”

Fighting back tears, the "It's Goin’ Down" rapper played an audio clip of his niece speaking at the vigil, where she paid tribute to her late sister.

“I don’t know if people understand the level of trauma this brings to our community and the family that this affects directly or indirectly,” he continued. “I’m sad, I’m hurt, I’m human—and I’m trying to be professional.”

Since the tragedy, an online GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the children’s mother, Jahda White. The fundraiser has raised over $32,000, helping to cover funeral expenses and assist the grieving family.

For many, Yung Joc is best known for his 2006 breakout hit, "It's Goin’ Down," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination. His platinum-selling album "New Joc City" made him one of the most recognizable names in mid-2000s hip-hop, and he later expanded into reality television on VH1’s "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta." In recent years, he has become a fixture in Atlanta radio, hosting one of the city’s most popular morning shows on Streetz 94.5, where he regularly discusses both music and social issues.