Every artist has certain relationships that change the trajectory of their career.
For San Antonio rapper Big Texas, one of the most important has been his long-standing connection to 500 Gwap Gang.
Born and raised on the West Side of San Antonio, Texas, Big Texas began making music in 2015 as a producer and mixing engineer before eventually transitioning into recording and performing his own music. By 2016, he was already performing live shows and building his reputation throughout Texas. Over the years, those performances would lead him far beyond his hometown and into one of the most active touring circles in underground rap.
As his name continued spreading through the Texas underground scene, Big Texas developed close relationships with members of 500 Gwap Gang, including Gwapmizzle, Zaybooty, Phee6z, and Gwap Lvrd D. The Dallas-based collective had already built a strong reputation through years of releases, touring, and helping define a new generation of underground Texas rap.
Through those relationships, Big Texas became increasingly involved with the broader 500 Gwap ecosystem, which also included affiliates such as Tokinpotent, Mikul, and CJ Top Off. What started as friendships and collaborations eventually evolved into years of shared stages, tour runs, and mutual support throughout multiple regions of the country.
One of the most significant moments in that relationship came with the 500 Gwap Gang Massacre Tour. The run brought together members of the collective and affiliates for a series of performances that helped further establish the group’s presence beyond Texas while introducing new audiences to artists connected to the movement.
That momentum continued through the Gwap Side Tour. Built around core 500 Gwap members including Gwapmizzle, Zaybooty, and Gwap Lvrd D, the tour expanded the group’s reach into additional markets while continuing to showcase the chemistry that had helped define the collective’s rise. Big Texas remained an active participant in the movement during this period, helping bring the group’s energy and culture to audiences throughout the Southwest and beyond.
Most recently, Big Texas has been involved with the ongoing Tales From The Gwap 3 run, another chapter in the evolution of the 500 Gwap movement. Promotional material for the tour highlights the continued involvement of core members and celebrates the return of Phee6z to the stage, further demonstrating the longevity and consistency that has kept the collective active through multiple generations of underground rap fans.
Throughout these tours, Big Texas wasn’t simply appearing as an occasional guest performer. Years of travel, performances, collaborations, and friendships helped establish him as a familiar face within the extended 500 Gwap network. Those experiences provided opportunities to perform in new cities, connect with fans across the country, and continue expanding his audience through one of the most active independent touring circles in underground rap.
The relationship also directly influenced the creation of one of Big Texas’ most important ventures: Holla Gang.
While touring and working alongside 500 Gwap artists, Big Texas and longtime collaborator Lil Texxan began developing the foundation for what would eventually become Holla Gang. Originally connected through the broader 500 Gwap network, Lil Texxan’s history with the collective helped create many of the relationships and opportunities that contributed to Holla Gang’s formation.
As the movement continued growing, Holla Gang evolved into more than just a collaboration between Big Texas and Lil Texxan. The group expanded to include SaucePhantom and Willis, creating a core lineup that would become the foundation of the Holla Gang brand. Many of the relationships, experiences, and lessons learned during the various 500 Gwap tour runs played a direct role in helping shape the identity and direction of the new movement.
The connection between both camps can also be heard in the music.
One of the clearest examples is Big Texas’ track “Holla Gang,” which features Lil Texxan, Zaybooty, and Gwap Lvrd D. The record serves as a snapshot of the crossover between the two movements, bringing together artists from both sides and reflecting the collaborative spirit that helped build those relationships over the years.
Today, the relationship between Big Texas and 500 Gwap Gang continues to stand as one of the most important chapters of his career. Through the Massacre Tour, Gwap Side Tour, Tales From The Gwap 3, countless performances, and years of collaboration, the partnership has helped connect artists from different cities while strengthening the broader Texas underground rap scene.
For Big Texas, those experiences helped create more than opportunities—they helped build a movement. And through Holla Gang, that influence continues to grow into the next chapter of his career.
