Nicholas Diego Leanos born September 6, 1996, known professionally as Lil Xan or simply Diego, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter hailing from Redlands, California. He gained widespread recognition for his hit song “Betrayed,” which reached number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100. On April 6, 2018, Leanos released his debut studio album, Total Xanarchy. Lil Xan’s stage name is inspired by Xanax, the brand name for the prescription drug alprazolam. He began to gain attention through platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, with his popularity soaring after the release of the music video for his song “Betrayed” in August 2017.
Lil Xan Biography 2025
The track reached number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100. In an interview with XXL, he revealed that his debut album would be titled Total Xanarchy, featuring collaborations with artists like Diplo and Swae Lee. In December 2017, Leanos announced the Total Xanarchy tour, which sold out in just five hours, according to Billboard. In 2018, Leanos contemplated changing his stage name to Diego to reflect his anti-drug stance, but he later expressed hesitation about fully adopting the new name. His debut album, Total Xanarchy, was released on April 6, 2018. While it received predominantly negative reviews, the album was a commercial success, debuting at number ten on the Billboard 200 and selling 28,000 copies in its first week. The following month, in May 2018, Leanos announced the release of a mixtape called Heartbreak Soldiers, which dropped on July 8, 2018.
Lil Xan Biography Details
| Birth name |
Nicholas Diego Leanos |
| Also known as |
|
| Born |
September 6, 1996 (age 28)
Redlands, California, U.S. |
| Genres |
- Hip hop
- trap
- emo rap
- cloud rap
- SoundCloud rap
- pop rap
- mumble rap
|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active |
2015–present |
| Labels |
|
Lil Xan Early Life
Born in Redlands, California, Leanos grew up in challenging circumstances, with his family living in motels throughout much of his childhood. He attended Redlands East Valley High School but dropped out in his freshman year. Afterward, he spent several years at home without employment. Leanos worked as a street cleaner and also sold drugs before discovering his passion for rapping. Initially, he pursued a career in photography to support friends in the rap scene, but after his camera was stolen, he decided to focus on rapping instead of investing in a new one.
Lil Xan Bio
| Attribute |
Details |
| Real Name |
Nicholas Diego Leanos |
| Stage Name |
Lil Xan, Diego |
| Born |
September 6, 1996 |
| Birthplace |
Redlands, California |
| Genres |
Hip Hop, Trap, Emo Rap, Cloud Rap |
| Occupations |
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter |
| Years Active |
2015–present |
| Labels |
Columbia, Xanarchy |
| Website |
xanarchygang.com |
Early Life and Struggles
| Topic |
Facts |
| Born |
Redlands, California, September 6, 1996 |
| Childhood |
Grew up poor, family lived in motels |
| Education |
Dropped out of Redlands East Valley High School |
| Early Jobs |
Worked as street cleaner, sold drugs |
| Career Start |
Transitioned to rap after pursuing photography |
Rise to Fame
| Topic |
Details |
| Breakthrough Song |
“Betrayed” (2017) |
| Billboard Success |
“Betrayed” peaked at #64 on the Hot 100 |
| Debut Album |
Total Xanarchy (April 6, 2018) |
| Collaborators |
Diplo, Swae Lee |
| Tour |
Total Xanarchy Tour, sold out in 5 hours |
Music and Sound Evolution
| Album |
Years |
| Debut Album |
Total Xanarchy (2018) |
| Mixtapes |
Heartbreak Soldiers (2018), Heartbreak Soldiers Pt. 2 (2019) |
| EPs |
CITGO (2016), Xanarchy (2017) |
| Collaborations |
Featured artists like Lil Tracy, Chris Miles |
Album and Mixtape Releases
| Release Title |
Release Date |
| Total Xanarchy |
April 6, 2018 |
| Heartbreak Soldiers |
July 8, 2018 |
| Heartbreak Soldiers Pt. 2 |
March 20, 2019 |
| Diego |
September 6, 2025 (Early release), September 19, 2025 (Full release) |
Lil Xan Influences
| Influence |
Artists |
| Pharrell Williams |
Significant influence on early music |
| N.E.R.D. |
Shaped early musical style |
| Arctic Monkeys |
Musical inspiration |
| Mac Miller |
Personal and musical influence |
| Drake |
Inspiration for lyricism and style |
Personal Struggles
| Issue |
Points |
| Drug Addiction |
Overcame Xanax and opiate addiction |
| Health Scare |
Hospitalized after eating too many Hot Cheetos |
| Mental Health |
Advocates against substance abuse |
Relationships
| Relationship |
Details |
| Noah Cyrus |
Dated in 2018, collaborated on “Live or Die” |
| Tana Mongeau |
On-and-off relationship, mentioned in “Miss Me” |
| Annie Smith |
Fiancée, pregnancy rumors, later split |
Collaborative Projects
| Project Name |
Collaborator(s) |
| have a nice day |
Chris Miles, Lil Tracy |
Legal Issues
| Issue |
Dates |
| Lawsuit |
2016 lawsuit for altercation with a security officer |
| Bankruptcy |
Filed in 2023, owes $11.89 million due to judgment |
Career Delays
| Album Title |
Details |
| Be Safe |
Tribute to Mac Miller, never released |
| When September Ends |
Announced in 2019, never released |
| Sorry I Didn’t Quit |
Announced in 2020, never released |
Current Projects
| Project |
Information |
| Diego (2025) |
Released September 6 (early release), September 19 (full release) |
Musical Style
| Genre |
Details |
| Trap |
Early music style |
| Cloud Rap |
Dream-like, atmospheric influence |
| Sad Rap |
Part of the “sad rap” movement |
Lil Xan Popularity
| Platform |
Facts |
| SoundCloud |
Early recognition and growth |
| YouTube |
Helped propel “Betrayed” to popularity |
| Billboard |
Songs and albums charted in the Top 100 |
Lil Xan Collaborators
| Artist |
Details |
| Diplo |
Collaborated on Total Xanarchy |
| Swae Lee |
Featured on Total Xanarchy |
| Chris Miles |
Collaborative EP, have a nice day |
Lil Xan Net Worth
Lil Xan is an American rapper who has a net worth of $300 thousand.
Lil Xan Summary
Lil Xan a rapper, singer, and songwriter, gained fame with his breakout hit “Betrayed” and his debut album Total Xanarchy. Despite facing personal struggles, including addiction and legal issues, his career continues to thrive with new projects, including the highly anticipated Diego album. Known for his unique blend of trap and emo rap, Lil Xan remains an influential figure in the music industry.
