Lil Lotus

John Elias Villagran III (born March 1, 1994), known professionally as Lil Lotus (stylized as LiL Lotus) is an American rapper and record producer from Dallas, Texas. He has released two solo studio albums, four solo EPs, three collaborative EPs and an additional two EPs as a part of the alternative hip hop group Boyfriendz and three EPs as a member of the post-hardcore band If I Die First. In 2026, he became the lead vocalist of From First to Last.

Beginning his career playing in multiple local Texas metalcore bands, he began an acoustic solo career in 2016 under the name Tremor. After posting a number of songs on SoundCloud he became increasingly influenced by the emerging emo rap scene on the platform, which led to him taking on the Lil Lotus moniker and associating with members and affiliates of GothBoiClique.

Early life John "Elias" Villagran grew up in Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Texas with devout Christian parents. His father was a musician, who introduced him to a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, reggaeton and oldies. He became influenced to make music through groups like Linkin Park and Paramore, as well as various emo and heavy metal songs that his friend had put on an iPod that Villagran had stolen. He was eventually accepted into a music and arts high school and began being taught guitar by his father. He found himself doing fill-in spots for various acts in his local metalcore scene, including Be//Gotten and Azurah, as well as becoming a frequent user of drugs such as LSD and Xanax. When Villagran was eighteen, his father died, which led him to leave home and live in his car for the following two years.

Career Solo Villagran began recording and mixing acoustic solo music and uploading the songs online in 2016. At this time he was performing under the name Tremor. He soon changed his stage name to Lil Lotus, after being introduced to and becoming influenced by the sound of GothBoiClique members Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Horse Head and Coldhart. A music video was released for the track "Bodybag", which features Coldhart was released on January 15, 2018. From March 3 to April 6, he opened for Nothing,Nowhere on his U.S. headline tour alongside Shinigami and Jay-Vee. Between May 13 and 31, he opened for Senses Fail on their U.S. headline tour alongside Sharptooth. On August 10, he released a collaborative EP with Horse Head titled "I Did This to Myself". He was featured on the song "Don't Take Me For Pomegranate" by I Set My Friends on Fire released on September 7. From October 5 to 9, he opened for Papa Roach on their short U.S. tour, alongside Of Mice & Men. On May 31, 2019, he released a collaborative EP with I Set My Friends on Fire, featuring one track where Villagran covers I Set My Friends on Fire, one track where I Set My Friends on Fire cover Villagran and two original collaborative songs. On December 11, it was announced that he had signed to Epitaph Records, which coincided with the release of the single "Never Get Away".

On February 3, 2020, he was featured on the single "Promise" by Tisoki. On April 6, he released the song "Never Felt Better" as a single. On May 15, he released the EP All My Little Scars, Vol. 1, the first in a trilogy of EPs released in 2020. He featured on the song "Dead Roses" by Slit, which was released on July 31. On August 3, he released the EP All My Little Scars Vol. 2. On August 31, he released the final EP in the All My Little Scars trilogy. He was featured on the song "So In Love" by Danny Goo, which was released September 4, 2020. On February 16, 2021, he released the single "Girl Next Door" featuring Lil Aaron. On May 25, he released the single "Romantic Disaster" featuring Chrissy Costanza, and announced the release of his debut album Errør Bøy. On June 29, he released the single "Think of Me Tonight". On August 1, he released the single "Rooftop". Errør Bøy was officially released on August 20, 2021. They released their debut self-titled EP in December 2017. The EP was recorded in a single night and was released within a week through SoundCloud.

On February 14, 2018, Boyfriendz released their second EP BFZ2.

If I Die First and From First to Last In 2020, he formed the band If I Die First. Villagran is the band's lead vocalist, accompanied by emo rappers Lil Zubin (clean vocals and keyboard) and Nedarb Nagrom (guitar and clean vocals), From First to Last guitarist Travis Richter (guitar and unclean vocals) and Ghostemane backing band musicians Cayle Sain (drums) and Nolan Nunes (bass). Their music has been categorised as metalcore, post-hardcore and screamo. On July 8 they released a music video for their debut single "Where Needles And Lovers Collide", directed by Max Beck and Ritcher, and announced the release of their debut EP My Poison Arms. On July 10, they released the EP, which consisted of six tracks. It was recorded by each member individually during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also released a video for the collaborative single from the EP called bloodstainedeyes.

On May 10, 2026, From First to Last confirmed Villagran as their new lead vocalist.

Personal life Villagran has one child, his son named Luca. Villagran then had a relationship with rapper Sage Aquafina, who he had become engaged to, and bought a house in Dallas with in 2019.

Musical style Villagran's early solo music has been categorised by critics as emo rap, with Hysteria magazine hailing him as "one of the biggest influences of the emo-rap genre". However, he disavows the label himself, preferring to say that his music is simply an updated version of emo.

He has cited influences including the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus,

Discography

Studio albums + Title Album detailsError Boy Released: August 20, 2021Nosebleeder Released: December 1, 2023

with Boyfriendz + Title EP detailsBoyfriendz Released: December 6, 2017 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streamingBFZ2 Released: February 14, 2019 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming

with If I Die First

+ Title EP detailsMy Poison Arms Released: July 10, 2020 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming Bloodstainedeyes (split with SeeYouSpaceCowboy) Released: May 14, 2021 Label: Pure Noise Records Format: Digital download, streaming They Drew Blood Released: August 13, 2021 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming

Collaborative + Title EP detailsI Did This to Myself (with Horse Head) Released: August 10, 2018 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streamingOnline Now (with I Set My Friends on Fire) Released: January 21, 2019 Label: Death Quartz Format: Digital download, streamingBullet (with Nedarb) Released: January 21, 2020 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays + Title EP detailsBodybag Released: June 15, 2017 Label: Repost Records Format: Digital download, streamingAll My Little Scars, Vol. 1 Released: May 15, 2020 Label: Epitaph Records Format: Digital download, streamingAll My Little Scars, Vol. 2 Released: August 3, 2020 Label: Epitaph Records Format: Digital download, streamingAll My Little Scars, Vol. 3 Released: August 31, 2020 Label: Epitaph Records Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "Ur Dad has a Gun" (featuring Shinigami) 2017 N/A "Never Get Away" 2019 N/A "I Don't Even Like U" 2020 All My Little Scars, Vol. 1 "Razor" "Me" All My Little Scars, Vol. 2 "Never Felt Better" 2021 All My Little Scars, Vol. 3 "Girl Next Door" (featuring Lil Aaron) Error Boy "Romantic Disaster" (featuring Chrissy Costanza) "Think of Me Tonight" "Rooftop" "Nosebleeder" 2023 Nosebleeder "When Life Gives You Lemons (featuring Sophie Powers) "She's a Vampire"

As featured artist