Anthony Lees (born 1985), better known by his stage name Spanian, is an Australian YouTuber, rapper, entrepreneur, author and former criminal. He is best known for his YouTube series Into the Hood, in which he visits neighbourhoods throughout Australia and internationally that are associated with poverty, organised crime or social disadvantage.

Since his release from prison in 2017, he has become one of Australia's most prominent independent online creators, with more than 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and over 240 million video views.

Lees was born in 1985 and grew up in the public housing estates of Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales. His father is of half-Spanish descent, leading friends to nickname him "Spaniard", which was later shortened to "Spanian".

Lees has described experiencing a turbulent upbringing marked by drug abuse, violence and criminal activity. He developed a heroin addiction during his teenage years and spent much of his youth in juvenile detention, including time at Cobham Youth Justice Centre.^[1] As a juvenile, he received custodial sentences for offences including a school siege involving a knife, break and enter, and an ATM ram raid.^[2]

As an adult, Lees accumulated convictions for offences including armed robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, reckless wounding and drug charges. His final conviction, in 2011, related to operating a criminal drug dealing organisation, resulting in an eight-year prison sentence.^[2] Altogether, he spent more than twelve years in juvenile detention centres and prisons before being released from Bathurst Correctional Centre in 2017.^[3][4]

Following his release from prison, Lees pursued a career as a rapper, becoming one of the earliest Australian artists associated with the country's drill music movement. His lyrics draw heavily on his experiences of organised crime, imprisonment, addiction and life in Sydney's housing commission estates.

He began releasing music independently in 2018. His debut EP, 2 Out, was followed by his debut studio album ONE OUT in 2020. His most recognised releases include "Illchay", "HOOD OOS", "Hood Rambo", "Melvin Manhoef", "The Ruckus", "Back It Up", "The Six" and "Waste Em", a collaboration with American rapper Twisted Insane.

Lees launched his YouTube channel after leaving prison, initially sharing stories about his criminal past through series such as Hood Logic and Hood Talk. His candid storytelling and firsthand accounts of crime attracted a substantial online audience.

His breakthrough came with Into the Hood, a documentary-style travel series in which he visits neighbourhoods widely regarded as dangerous or socially disadvantaged throughout Australia and overseas. Episodes typically feature interviews with local residents, discussions of crime and social issues, and explorations of the culture and history of each area.^[5]

Around this time he also rose to public view with conjunctional series such as 'It's All Eats,' a food review series, and 'The Search,' a podcast run by Spanian where he interviewed other Australian former-criminals, rappers, and public figures.

His series have expanded internationally, with episodes filmed in countries including but not limited to Brazil, South Africa, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Fiji, France, Sweden and Mexico, alongside numerous Australian towns and cities. As of 2026, Spanian's videos consist mostly of travel vlog-style and documentary style videos, showcasing parts of the world not often seen by the public eye.

His channel has become the vehicle for one of Australia's most successful independently produced YouTube travel series and has been credited with exposing audiences to communities rarely covered by mainstream media. By mid 2026, the channel had exceeded 1.2 million subscribers and accumulated more than 240 million views.

In 2022, Hachette Australia published Spanian: The Unfiltered Hood Life, an autobiography co-written with Christopher Kevin Au. The book recounts Lees' childhood, criminal career, years in prison, recovery from drug addiction and transition into online media.^[6]

In October 2024, Lees entered the hospitality industry by launching Spanian's Kebabs, beginning with a branded food truck on Parramatta Road in Sydney.^[7]

The business expanded rapidly through a franchise model, operating multiple food trucks across Australia before opening its first permanent storefront in Newtown, Sydney. The brand has become known for its social media marketing and large crowds at new openings.

Lees has cultivated a public persona centred on authenticity, rehabilitation and his experiences in Australia's criminal underworld. His content frequently discusses prison life, addiction, violence, housing commission communities and social inequality.

Supporters have praised his openness regarding his criminal past and his encouragement of younger people to avoid crime, while critics have argued that aspects of his content glamorise criminal culture. His videos have been credited with introducing wider audiences to Australia's "eshay" subculture and to disadvantaged communities often overlooked by mainstream media.

In 2023, Lees was dropped by his management company, One Day Entertainment, following social media posts widely criticised as homophobic and transphobic.^[8]

In March 2024, a fan gathering promoted by Lees in Logan, Queensland, attracted hundreds of people and resulted in damage to several police vehicles.^[4][9]

The following month, Tasmanian police charged Lees with instigating the commission of a simple offence after filming an Into the Hood episode in Bridgewater. The charge was later withdrawn, although several attendees were charged with offences including hooning and property damage.^[10]

In May 2025, one of Spanian's Kebabs' Melbourne food trucks was destroyed in a fire being treated as suspicious by police.^[11]

ONE OUT (2020)

2 OUT (2019)

"Illchay" (2020) "Back It Up" (2020) "The Six" (2020) "Waste Em" (featuring Twisted Insane) (2020) "HOOD OOS" (2021) "Hood Rambo" (2021) "Melvin Manhoef" (2021) "The Ruckus" (2021)