Music fans who enjoy watching young, up-and-coming artists should be jumping for the chance to see rapper Lil Xan. He was born in Southern California as Nicholas Diego Leanos and simply goes by Diego or Lil Xan. When his debut album, Total Anarchy, dropped in 2018 with its platinum single “Betrayed,” it was clear that Lil Xan had a bright future. While he’s not had a privileged life, that is part of what has fueled Lil Xan as an artist and a songwriter. His lyrics are raw and honest, and his performances on stage are equally engaging. Lil Xan appears to be the whole package, so whether you’ve heard of him or not, he’s someone who all fans of hip hop will want to see perform live.

What’s in a Name?

It’s possible to learn a lot about who a rapper is from their name. In the case of Lil Xan, his name eludes to the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. Diego was once addicted to Xanax and opioids and fully understands that kind of struggle. While he was able to beat his addiction to Xanax after a couple of years, he’s been unafraid to speak candidly about his addiction and advocates against the use of such drugs. That struggle has become an important part of both the life and the career of Lil Xan, which is clear to those who know his music.

A Little Bit of Everything

It’s safe to say that there aren’t many rappers out there who are like Lil Xan. He lived in motels throughout his childhood, and eventually dropped out of high school. Lil Xan also tried to pursue a career in photography but turned to music after his camera was stolen. In other words, he didn’t exactly take a straight line to become a rapper, which is why his influences are so different. Lil Xan has named rock bands like Cage the Elephant and Arctic Monkeys as his influences, as well as Pharrell Williams. At times, Lil Xan’s music has been described as “sad rap.” But in reality, his music is just what has come out of a life of poverty, drug addiction, and a host of other tribulations, which, as we all know, tend to help create great music.