Lil Xan
A rapper whose breakout hit about prescription drug disillusionment defined a moment in SoundCloud-era hip-hop, leading to major label success and subsequent reinvention.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American rapper·Birthday: September 6·Millennials
Biography
Born Nicholas Diego Leanos, the artist who became Lil Xan emerged from the haze of the late-2010s SoundCloud rap movement. His stage name, derived from the prescription anxiety medication Xanax, positioned him squarely within a scene grappling with substance use, but his breakthrough hit 'Betrayed' carried a surprising message of regret and warning. The track's melodic, hazy flow caught fire online, landing him a Billboard Hot 100 entry and a major label deal for his debut album 'Total Xanarchy.' His rapid rise was met with both fervent fandom and intense scrutiny, making him a polarizing figure emblematic of his genre's raw, unfiltered ethos. After a period of personal and professional recalibration, he returned under his birth name Diego for his 2024 album, signaling a deliberate move away from the persona that first made him famous.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lil was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Lil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2017 single 'Betrayed' peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- Released his debut studio album 'Total Xanarchy' in April 2018.
- Returned with his second album, 'Diego,' in September 2024, adopting his given name.
Did You Know?
His real name is Nicholas Diego Leanos, and he now uses 'Diego' as a stage name as well.
He has been open about his past struggles with drug addiction, particularly with Xanax.
He is of Mexican descent.
“I just want my music to make people feel something real.”
