BigXthaPlug on new music, life after prison, promise to his kids, hating industry, life lessons from his dad, son teaching him patience and why he chooses to be naked.

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

Having uncontrolled eosinophilic esophagitis or EOE can mean you're stuck in many ways, like cutting your food into tiny pieces.

Or stuck chewing food for a long time. Dupixant dupellumab, a prescription medicine for patients one year and older weighing at least 33 pounds can help with that. It's a breakthrough treatment that can reduce inflammation in the esophagus and improve swallowing. How about this? Dupixant is not a steroid. It proactively treats EOE so you can get ahead of it.

SPEAKER_2 (0:34)

Severe allergic reactions, including skin reactions, can occur. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing or wheezing or swelling of your face, mouth, tongue or throat. Tell your doctor of new or worsening joint aches and pain or a parasitic infection or asthma. Don't change or stop other treatments without talking to your doctor.

SPEAKER_1 (0:49)

Feeling stuck with EOE? Start treating with Dupixant. Talk to your gastroenterologist or allergist today about Dupixant. Learn more at dupixant.com or call 1-844-DUPIXANT.

Ryan Clark (1:00)

BigXthaPlug is different from Xavier. And the truth is, becoming a famous rapper was never Xavier's dream. It became a necessity after the birth of his son. And truthfully, X hasn't seen Xavier in years. And it seems to me, he misses him. He takes care of his entire family and most of them live under his roof. You would think a man surrounded by so many people would never feel alone. But the reality is, the superstar often goes home and cries by himself. It seems that he would love rapping, because he's so damn good at it. But after football, Xavier was lost. He was trying to figure out who he was, how he was going to survive. More importantly, how was he going to provide? Rap wasn't a passion, it was a lifeline. X opens up about his upbringing, his parents' relentless hustle, and the life shaped by survival. He takes us back to the birth of his son, the moment he learned the news while sitting in jail, and how that moment changed everything. Then we went even deeper, past the fame, past the money, past the music. We talk about his mental health, the struggle to find motivation, and the days when X admits he doesn't even want to live. His friends told us that he was going to cry during this conversation, and they were right. One of our favorite BigXthaPlug songs is Therapy Session. And that's exactly what this felt like. Not an interview, but a man allowing himself to be vulnerable enough to confront the parts of himself the world rarely gets to see. Because sometimes, the people who provide for everybody else are the ones struggling the most in silence. So please welcome BigXthaPlug for one of our biggest pivots.

BigX, man, welcome to The Pivot. This is Channing Crowder. This is Fred Taylor. I'm Ryan Clark, Pivot fan. Thank you for pivoting with us. You know, I know you love football, right? So I want to know, how does it feel to be a famous meme every time a wide receiver get locked up?

SPEAKER_4 (3:18)

Because every time a wide receiver get locked up, we see you out there running around.

Xavier Gung (3:24)

I seen a viral clip, a receiver used it and it worked.

SPEAKER_4 (3:28)

They used your move?

Xavier Gung (3:29)

They used the move. I seen, they say, oh, he used the BigXthaPlug move. I can't remember what team it was, but it worked.

SPEAKER_4 (3:35)

So, oh, yeah.

Channing Crowder (3:36)

You told them that worked.

Ryan Clark (3:38)

I'm doing something right, you know?

Xavier Gung (3:41)

It's good to see I can still make an impact even off the field, you know?

Ryan Clark (3:45)

But for you, man, how much of what you, you know, learn from ball or the things you love about ball, do you try to apply to life now?

Xavier Gung (3:54)

Yeah, everything. Like me even going independent with United Masters off rip was, I looked at it as, okay, I can go to a major because I had offers for majors, but I didn't know the game. I didn't know the business. I'm not finna go put myself in a position where I don't know something and now I'm not starting or getting the playing time that I want. So I went to a Juco. I looked at UM as a Juco, go there, get my, you know, get my reps in, get some playing time, get strong, hit the gym.

And then I go major. But we done pulled a Cam Newton, basically, where, you know what I'm saying? We really didn't even have to go. We could have went straight to the, but, you know, yeah. So, yeah, everything, from just the team to everything is just in the football mindset, for sure.