In October 2024, Xavier Landum, stage name BigXthaPlugb, who weighed about 470 lbs, set a goal to become “healthier,” and the noted rapper, Jelly Roll, is aiding him in this journey.

On March 13, the 27-year-old was interviewed by Rolling Stone for the magazine’s The Future of Music issue. During his appearance, the rapper discussed his weight loss journey and revealed the role Jelly Roll has played in it.

Speaking about Roll's contribution, BigXthaPlugb said, “He's like [my] uncle. So any time I'm around him, it’s more of like a 'Bub, this is what I feel like you should do. I s**** healthier. I eat healthier. I walk every day.' He's trying to put me on game”.

The former football player started his new workout routine in 2025, intending to lose 120 lbs and come down from 470 lbs to 350 lbs. Since then, he has been hitting the gym 4 times a week.

During the interview, he said, “All I've been doing has been muscle memory from me playing football. So now I'm finna get my body back right. If we're being honest, I don’t know why I’m in this gym. Like I said, I feel like I look good already. I know I'm healthy. I don't eat crazy, stupid s***. It's more of a mental thing. It's something I said I'm gonna do.”

However, it's not only BigX, who started a fitness journey, but his motivator, Jelly Roll, has also been on a similar voyage previously.

Jelly Roll’s 275-pound weight loss journey

In a new cover story in Men's Health, published on January 2, Roll, a CMA Award winner, discussed the fitness journey that has helped him shed 275 lbs over 5 years.

He admitted that he wanted to feature on the cover of Men's Health in the 2026 edition. That somehow helped him focus on his fitness.

Roll said that the journey was not only physical but also mental. That's why he appointed a therapist and says he is evaluating his relationship with food.

He said, “Once I started treating food like an a********, it started changing everything for me. When I started really looking at the source of why I was eating. What was I eating for?”

The singer also addressed the people who try every factor that contributes to weight loss.

He said, “Listen, man, because I’ve done this before: Just pick one of those. And you know which one you need to pick? Food. Start there. F*** everything else. Just commit yourself to ‘I’m gonna count every calorie and macro that goes in my mouth”.

Apart from food, in the documentary called “A Year For A Life”, released on January 2, Roll was seen doing:

• Boxing
• Push-ups
• walking up stairs in the arenas.

The fitness journey of BigXthaPlug, inspired by Roll and his own transformation, highlights that it relies primarily on mindset, lifestyle changes, and consistency rather than shortcuts.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy