Why All The Way by BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman Still Matters

Why All The Way by BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman Still Matters

Music is weird right now. Genre lines are basically invisible, and honestly, that’s how we ended up with a Dallas rapper and an Illinois country star dominating the charts together. When BigXthaPlug first teased a snippet of "All The Way" on Valentine's Day in 2025, nobody really saw it coming—not even Bailey Zimmerman himself.

The track officially dropped on April 4, 2025, and it didn't just "do well." It exploded. It debuted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time BigXthaPlug ever touched the top ten. For Zimmerman, it was his second. But the real story isn't just about the numbers; it’s about how two guys from completely different musical worlds managed to make a heartbreak anthem that feels surprisingly cohesive despite being a "country-trap" experiment.

How a Text Message Changed the Charts

You’d think a collaboration this big would involve months of corporate planning. It didn't. Zimmerman later told country videographer Eddie Marange that he’d heard whispers of BigXthaPlug working on a country-influenced project and thought it would be cool to link up "one day."

That "one day" happened almost immediately. BigX sent over a demo via text. Zimmerman loved it, cut his vocals in his own studio, and they were just going to sit on it for a while. Then BigX randomly posted the snippet on TikTok, and the internet did what the internet does. The demand became so high that they had to rush the release through 600 Entertainment and UnitedMasters.

✨ Don't miss: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong

The Sound of "All The Way"

Musically, the song is a bit of a trip. It opens with these sinuous, brooding acoustic guitar notes that feel like classic Bailey Zimmerman territory. Then the bass kicks in. Produced by Charley Cooks and Bandplay, the track utilizes a heavy trap-style country groove—think deep 808s meeting a steel guitar.

BigXthaPlug doesn't try to "sing" country. He stays in his lane with that signature charismatic, deep-timbred flow. He’s rapping about "texts turning green" (the universal symbol for being blocked or switched to SMS) and the frustration of a relationship that just won't die a quiet death.

Zimmerman handles the chorus, and it’s arguably the strongest part of the song. His voice has that raspy, almost strained vibrato that fans of "Rock and a Hard Place" recognize instantly. He isn't asking for a second chance. He’s begging for a clean break. The hook "Don't let me down easy, if you gonna leave me baby go and leave me all the way" basically became the mantra for every messy breakup in 2025.

🔗 Read more: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong

Why the Lyrics Hit Different

Most heartbreak songs are about wanting someone back. This one is about the torture of the "on-off" cycle. Both artists play the role of a guy who still has feelings but knows the situation is toxic.

  • The Verse Breakdown: BigXthaPlug’s verses are blunt. He talks about the "fussin' and fighting" and the realization that his ex never really meant it when she said she wanted his name.
  • The Bridge-Burning: The song emphasizes finality. Lyrics like "Burn all the bridges, don't ask forgiveness" show a level of bitterness that feels more authentic than your standard radio-friendly pop song.
  • The Perspective: It’s interesting that while the instrumentation is "country," the attitude is very much rooted in Southern hip-hop's "keep it moving" mentality.

Reception and Controversy

Not everyone loved the crossover. If you look back at the Reddit threads from when the song peaked, the country purists were pretty annoyed. Some called it "Great Value Morgan Wallen" or complained that a trap beat has no business being on the country charts.

But the fans didn't care. The song reached number one on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts—a rare "double" that few artists ever achieve. It even knocked Justin Bieber’s "Yukon" off the top of the Rhythmic Airplay chart. By the time they performed it live at CMA Fest 2025, it was already certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

💡 You might also like: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted

The Cinematic Music Video

The video, directed by Jerry Morka, leaned hard into the "broken home" aesthetic. It wasn't fancy. It featured both artists in a bucolic countryside setting, dealing with their respective breakups. You see the bags being packed and the possessions being thrown around. It matches the "bridge-burning" energy of the lyrics perfectly.

What’s cool is that BigXthaPlug and Zimmerman actually appear together in several scenes, driving around and looking like they’ve been friends for years. It helped sell the collaboration as something genuine rather than a forced label pairing.

What This Meant for BigXthaPlug’s Career

"All The Way" served as the lead single for BigXthaPlug's third studio album, I Hope You're Happy. It was his "Go Country" moment, but it wasn't a one-off. The project eventually featured other heavy hitters like Post Malone, Shaboozey, and even Luke Combs.

It proved that BigX has the versatility to step outside his comfort zone without losing his core identity. He didn't put on a cowboy hat and start faking an accent; he just brought his Dallas swagger to a different kind of beat.

Moving Forward With the Sound

If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific "Country-Rap" or "Nashville-Trap" sound, there are a few things you should do next. First, check out the rest of the I Hope You're Happy album to see how BigX handles other country collaborations. Then, look for Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore album Different Night Same Rodeo, which includes "Backup Plan" with Luke Combs—it carries a similar high-energy, crossover vibe. Finally, watch the "Vevo Footnotes" for "All The Way" to see the behind-the-scenes footage of how they actually pieced the track together in the studio.