Lil Xan

Named for the prescription drug he’s abused in the past, rapper Lil Xan is a pioneer of “sad boy” rap who’s earned a cult following of nihilistic millennials. • Hailing from Redlands, California, Xan is of Mexican descent. • Before music, he spent his time photographing friends who rapped. When his camera was stolen, he abandoned his hobby to pursue his own rap career. • In 2016, Xan dropped his debut, CITGO, a murky, 808-heavy EP dedicated to a friend who’d committed suicide. • The following year, he released Toothache. The project’s viral lead single, “Betrayed,” went platinum. • After inking a deal with Columbia Records, Xan delivered his 2018 full-length debut, TOTAL XANARCHY, which hit No. 10 on the Billboard 200. The project was named after the rapper’s crusade against prescription drug abuse. • In late 2018, following the death of rapper Mac Miller, Xan entered rehab to kick his drug addiction. • Given his commitment to the Xanarchy movement, the rapper has considered retiring his Lil Xan moniker.