Play video content EXCLUSIVE JANUARY 2018 TMZ.com

Lil Xan's officially made it -- he's got a hit song and superfans are trailing him around NYC -- but says he's about to make a big change, because he wants to set a positive example.

The rising young rapper was in Times Square when we asked if he's involved with hip-hop's anti-Xanax movement ... since it's the root of his stage name. Xan broke some news about when he's changing his name and why.

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