Remembering DJ Bigga Rankin: The Voice, Tastemaker, and Godfather of Southern Hip-Hop The hip-hop community is mourning the loss of a true architect of the Southern rap movement. Billy “DJ Bigga Rankin” Plummer, the legendary Jacksonville-born DJ, promoter, executive, and community leader, passed away at the age of 50. At the time of publication, no cause of death has been reported. His family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on social media: "It is with great sadness that we announce that the patriarch of our family, Billy 'Bigga Rankin' Plummer, passed away earlier this morning on July 20, 2026." While his loss leaves an immeasurable void in Jacksonville and across Florida, Bigga Rankin’s legacy extends far beyond his home state. As a DJ, A&R, label executive, and industry mentor, he left an undeniable, permanent mark on Southern hip-hop. The Voice That Built Southern Rap Champions To anyone who listened to Southern rap mixtapes during the 2000s and...