On Thursday, September 5, 2024, as reports confirmed the passing of rapper Rich Homie Quan, born Dequantes Devontay Lamar. The artist is known for his breakout hit “Type of Way”, died at the age of 34 in an Atlanta hospital. Though the exact cause of death has not been officially released, several sources, including fellow rapper Boosie Badazz have suggested that a drug overdose may have been the cause.
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Rich Homie Quan was born on October 4, 1989 in Atlanta, Rich Homie Quan grew up in DeKalb County, on the city’s east side. He was raised by a single mother being the eldest of three siblings.
Rich Homie Quan’s first passion was baseball. He aspired to become a professional player. However his dreams were cut short due to a series of burglaries that led him to a 15-month jail sentence in 2011.
While incarcerated Quan turned to music, using it as a vehicle to escape the challenges of his environment. This was when his rap career began to take shape and he emerged as a new voice in Atlanta’s trap music.
Rich Homie Quan’s first breakthrough came in 2013 with the release of “Type of Way,” a track from his third mixtape. The song struck a chord with listeners and introduced him as a fresh talent in the rap industry.
“Type of Way” gained attention establishing Quan as one of the key artists of the 2010s rap movement. The success of this track opened doors for collaborations with well-known names in the industry like Gucci Mane, Birdman and Trinidad James.
2014 was an important year for Quan. He and fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug became core members of Rich Gang, a collective assembled by Birdman. Their collaborative work, particularly the hit single “Lifestyle” elevated both Quan and Young Thug to the upper echelons of the rap music.
“Lifestyle” peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Quan’s highest-charting single.
Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug’s collaborations were well-received and the pair became known for their unique chemistry. Together they were viewed as the future of Atlanta rap with their joint album Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1 receiving critical acclaim.
Rich Homie Quan’s relationship with Young Thug soured after an incident in 2015 involving a raid at Young Thug’s house. The strain between the two went beyond their musical partnership with Quan’s name being brought up during Young Thug’s RICO trial in 2022.
Tragedy also struck Quan’s family in 2014 when his father, Corey Lamar was shot multiple times during an attack at his barbershop. It was speculated that this was part of the gang-related conflict between rival factions in Atlanta.
Rich Homie Quan’s solo career continued to flourish even after his fallout with Young Thug. In 2015, he released “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” which became his most successful solo single peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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“Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” became synonymous with Quan’s style fusing melodic elements with hard-hitting beats resonating with a wide audience.
The song’s success earned him several award nominations including recognition at the iHeartRadio Music Awards for Hip-Hop Song of the Year.
In 2014, he was named to rap publication XXL’s Freshman Class, a prestigious honor in the rap community. He was included alongside other rising stars like Chance the Rapper, Kevin Gates and Ty Dolla $ign.
Rich Homie Quan was nominated for several awards including the BET Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards. He was a contender for categories such as Best New Artist and the People’s Champ Award.
Despite the setbacks Quan remained committed to his music rejecting the increasing focus on street life, crime and violence that had started to dominate rap lyrics.
He chose to stick with a more melodic and emotional approach, which resonated with audience. Quan openly expressed his belief that rap should move beyond the glorification of violence.
In 2018, Rich Homie Quan released his debut studio album “Rich as in Spirit.” The album was personal project that reflected his growth as an artist.
Over the past few years, Quan continued to release music, although not at the same pace as before. His mixtape, “Family & Mula Reloaded” was released in 2022 and he dropped a few singles in 2023 including collaborations with artists like Clever and 2 Chainz.
Jacquees, a fellow Atlanta artist was one of the first to pay his respects. On X, he wrote, “Rest in Peace my brother Rich Homie Quan. I love you for Life,” calling him a “legend” in a follow-up post.
2 Chainz, who had collaborated with Quan posted on Instagram, “Dam lil brother, we just spoke about shooting a video, special prayer for you and your family.”
Quavo shared a tribute, posting a photo of himself alongside Quan and other artists, writing, “May God be with us, never saw this being apart of our journey.”
Alex Tumay, an engineer who worked with Quan described him as “one of the nicest people I ever worked with.”
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