Anthony Lees (born 1985), known as Spanian, is an Australian drill rapper, social media influencer, and entrepreneur from Sydney. He spent over twelve years in prison before reinventing himself as a content creator and hip-hop artist.
His raw storytelling and street-level authenticity have earned him a following of over one million on YouTube.
Who is Spanian?
Spanian is a Sydney-based drill rapper, social media influencer, and entrepreneur. His real name is Anthony Lees, and he grew up in the public housing estates of Woolloomooloo, New South Wales.
He spent over twelve years inside boys’ homes and prisons before launching a career in music and content creation. After his release from Bathurst Correctional Centre in 2017, he pursued rap and YouTube full-time.
Spanian built his audience through unfiltered storytelling rooted in his lived experience. His YouTube series Into the Hood travels through some of Australia’s and the world’s most dangerous neighbourhoods, connecting with viewers who rarely see their realities reflected on screen.
He has also published an autobiography, launched a food business, and grown a presence across multiple social media platforms. Today, Spanian operates across music, media, and business simultaneously.
Early Life of Spanian
Spanian grew up in Woolloomooloo, one of Sydney’s most notorious public housing estates. He also spent significant time in the nearby suburbs of Redfern and Waterloo, areas he later described as defined by a culture of heroin and crime.
By twelve years old, he began following a path into criminal activity. His early offences included a school siege involving a knife, a break-and-enter, and an ATM ram-raid, each resulting in custodial sentences at Cobham Youth Justice Centre in western Sydney.
His nickname originated during his time at Cobham. Other inmates called him “Spaniard” because his father is half-Spanish, and the name gradually shortened to “Spanian.”
During his teenage years, he also developed a heroin addiction. Reading and rapping while incarcerated eventually became his way out of that cycle.
Spanian Age
Spanian was born in 1985, making him 41 years old as of June, 2026. His exact birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
His zodiac sign is not confirmed, as his specific birth month and day remain private.
He released his autobiography in 2021 and launched his kebab truck business in October 2024, demonstrating sustained momentum into his forties.
Spanian Ethnicity and Nationality
Spanian holds Australian nationality, born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales.
His father is half-Spanish, with paternal roots linked to Galicia, Spain. Spanian has also stated he has Dutch heritage on his mother’s side.
He grew up immersed in the culture of inner-city Sydney’s social housing communities, which shaped both his music and his public identity.
Spanian Height and Weight
Spanian stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, which equals approximately 190 centimetres or 1.90 metres.
His weight is reportedly around 250 pounds (approximately 113 kg), giving him a powerfully built physical frame.
Beyond his size, he is also a trained kickboxer, which adds to the physical presence he brings to both his music and his Into the Hood video content.
Spanian Musical Style and Influences
Spanian’s music sits firmly within the drill rap and horrorcore hip-hop traditions. His lyrics draw directly from his lived experience of prison, addiction, street crime, and survival in Sydney’s housing estates.
He began rapping inside prison from the age of sixteen. Listening to Tupac Shakur while incarcerated as a teenager was a formative influence on his musical development.
His songs, including Independent Album, One Out, HOOD OOS, and Illchay, blend raw lyricism with beats that reflect the grit of inner-Sydney life. He officially launched his rap career in 2018 after his release from prison.
Spanian Career
Early Career
Spanian began rapping informally inside juvenile detention and prison from the age of sixteen. However, he did not pursue music professionally until after his release from Bathurst Correctional Centre in 2017.
In 2018, he officially launched his rap career, releasing tracks that drew from his criminal past and street upbringing. Songs like One Out and Independent Album connected with listeners familiar with Sydney’s housing commission culture.
His early music earned him attention in Australian hip-hop circles. He was among a wave of artists who emerged during a resurgence in Australian rap in the late 2010s.
He officially began his rap career in 2018.
His first major internet moment came from a short documentary by Bulls Pro Media, in which he walked through Woolloomooloo discussing his rap career and street stories. The video made his raw, unfiltered personality impossible to ignore.
Breakthrough and YouTube Success
The real turning point came when Spanian began posting YouTube videos drawing on his past life as a criminal and his deep knowledge of Sydney’s underworld. His channel grew rapidly as audiences connected with his storytelling.
His series Into the Hood became his defining work. In each episode, he travels to neighbourhoods widely considered dangerous — in Australia and around the world — and walks through them on camera, narrating what he sees.
Into the Hood became “incredibly successful,” according to reporting from The Sydney Morning Herald, transforming him into what media described as an “eshay influencer.”
His channel surpassed 1.23 million subscribers and accumulated over 218 million views on YouTube. He also runs a complementary food travel series called It’s All Eats, exploring local cuisine across Asia and Europe.
In 2022, publisher Hachette Australia released his autobiography, Spanian: The Unfiltered Hood Life, co-written with journalist Christopher Kevin Au. The book documents his childhood, criminal years, and path to reinvention.
Recent Work
In May 2023, Spanian was dropped by his label One Day Entertainment following a series of social media controversies. He continued building his media presence independently.
In March 2024, a fan meet-up event in Logan, Brisbane, drew a large crowd that resulted in police cars being damaged. Charges briefly filed against him in Tasmania after an Into the Hood filming trip in April 2024 were eventually dropped.
In October 2024, he opened his first branded kebab truck on Parramatta Road in Sydney. The venture went viral on social media.
By July 2025, Spanian’s Kebabs had expanded to seven trucks operating on a franchising model. In May 2025, one of his Melbourne trucks burned down in a suspected arson attack.
Spanian Discography
Spanian officially launched his rap career in 2018 and has released music across digital streaming platforms including Spotify.
His known songs include Independent Album, One Out, HOOD OOS, Illchay, Head Monsters, Melvin Manhoef, Back It Up, and The Ruckus.
He also collaborated with Twisted Insane on the track Waste Em and featured on Valentine alongside Australian rap group Triple One.
His music catalogue reflects his background in horrorcore and drill rap. The songs blend autobiographical lyricism with beats that mirror the sound of Sydney’s inner-city communities.
Spanian Net Worth
Spanian’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes from multiple streams built since his release from prison in 2017.
Revenue sources include YouTube advertising, sponsored content, music streaming royalties, merchandise sales, book royalties from The Unfiltered Hood Life, speaking engagements, and his expanding Spanian’s Kebabs franchise.
His kebab business alone, growing from one truck in October 2024 to seven franchised trucks by July 2025, represents a significant addition to his financial profile.
Spanian Wife
Spanian married Angela McColl in August 2023 in Sydney. The couple shared aspects of their lives publicly on social media, including family updates that their followers followed closely.
Together, they have a son born in 2025. The child’s name has not been publicly confirmed.
By late 2025, Spanian publicly confirmed he and Angela McColl had separated. The split attracted significant attention across Australian media and social platforms.
Spanian Children
Spanian and his former wife Angela McColl welcomed a son in 2025. The child’s name has not been publicly disclosed.
The birth of their son was publicly known, with Spanian’s family life regularly discussed as part of his social media presence throughout 2023 and 2024.
He has not publicly confirmed any other children.
Spanian Social Media
Spanian is active across multiple platforms. His primary presence is on YouTube, where his channel has surpassed 1.23 million subscribers and 218 million total views.
On Instagram, he posts under @spanian.official. His content there covers music updates, personal moments, and commentary on street culture.
He is also active on Kick, the live-streaming platform, where he streams alongside his other content. His official website is spanianofficial.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spanian’s net worth?
Spanian’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income spans YouTube revenue, music streaming, book royalties, merchandise, and his Spanian’s Kebabs franchise.
How old is Spanian?
Spanian is 41 years old as of June, 2026, having been born in 1985. His specific birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
Who is Spanian married to?
Spanian married Angela McColl in August 2023 in Sydney. By late 2025, he publicly confirmed the couple had separated.
What is Spanian’s biggest hit song?
Spanian is perhaps best known for HOOD OOS, One Out, and Independent Album, as well as his viral collaboration Waste Em with American rapper Twisted Insane.
Where was Spanian born?
Spanian was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and grew up in the inner-city suburb of Woolloomooloo.
What is Spanian famous for?
Spanian is known for his YouTube series Into the Hood, his drill rap music, his 2022 autobiography Spanian: The Unfiltered Hood Life, and his Spanian’s Kebabs food franchise.
The Bottom Line
Spanian released his autobiography Spanian: The Unfiltered Hood Life through Hachette Australia in 2022, co-written with journalist Christopher Kevin Au. His Into the Hood YouTube series crossed 218 million views and built a channel of over 1.23 million subscribers.
He grew up in Woolloomooloo’s public housing estates, spent over 12 years in prison, and built his entire public career on those experiences. His food venture, Spanian’s Kebabs, expanded from one truck in late 2024 to seven franchise trucks by mid-2025.
Spanian continues to operate across music, content creation, and business from Sydney. His kebab franchise, social media presence, and ongoing YouTube output keep him among the most distinctive voices in Australian independent media.
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