Rich Homie Quan

Biography

Dequantes Devontay Lamar (October 4, 1989 – September 5, 2024), known professionally as Rich Homie Quan, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Beginning his career in 2011, Lamar first saw mainstream success with his 2013 single "Type of Way×Type of Way22 August 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Type of Way4:16", which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, his 2015 single, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)×Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)10 February 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)2:56", saw further success at number 26 on the chart. Alongside fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug, Lamar was a member of Cash Money Records' spin-off project Rich Gang, who found success with their 2014 single "Lifestyle".
Lamar's debut studio album, Rich as in Spirit×Rich as in Spirit16 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Reflecting3:132Fuck wit Me2:563342:494The Author3:065Same Year3:356Never Fold3:167Long Enough3:118No No No3:309Perfect Flower3:3610Achieving2:4511Deep2:5312Foot Soldier2:4213Let’s Go Up2:4114Changed2:5615Understood2:55164rm Me to U2:5517Simon Says3:1518Think About It3:1619Bossman3:08 (2018), entered the Billboard 200 at number 33. The rapper died from an accidental drug overdose after taking multiple drugs, including fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine, and promethazine in 2024.

Early life

Dequantes Devontay Lamar was born on October 4 (birth year is disputed: 1989 or 1990, both are claimed with an identical date), in Atlanta, Georgia. In school, Lamar had a particular interest in reading. Literature was his favorite subject and he enjoyed creative writing classes. He played baseball for over four years while he attended Atlanta, Georgia's Ronald McNair Sr. High School with the aspiration to play professionally. As center fielder and leadoff hitter, Lamar began playing at the varsity level during his freshman year and earned a scholarship offer from Fort Valley State University. Due to the expense of tuition, Lamar dropped out after two weeks, then got a job at a nearby airport.
When he lost his job, Lamar got involved in burglaries, which led to him spending 15 months in jail. "I never saw myself going this far with music. Music was just a hobby at first. I never saw myself being on stage and rocking out shows. After I got out of jail, I started to take it more serious and that's when my dream came true", he said in an interview with XXL.
Rich Homie Quan was influenced by dirty south music, including Jeezy, Gucci Mane, T.I., Lil Boosie, Lil Wayne, Kilo Ali, Outkast, and Goodie Mob.

Career

In 2012, Lamar's song "Differences" was released as the first single from his mixtape Still Going In. In 2013, he toured with Trinidad James. He was also featured on Gucci Mane's album Trap House III on songs such as "I Heard", "Can't Trust Her" and "Chasin' Paper", which also features Young Thug. Reviewing his single, "Type of Way×Type of Way22 August 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Type of Way4:16", The New York Times wrote that he was "part of Atlanta's rising generation of rappers—think Future, Young Thug, Young Scooter—who deliver lines with melody and heart, like singers on the verge of a breakdown". The song peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Still Goin' In (Reloaded) would be named the tenth best mixtape of 2013 by Rolling Stone.
In August 2013, "Type of Way" was released to the iTunes Store by Def Jam Recordings, suggesting that he had signed to the label. However, Rich Homie Quan was still independent and was considering signing a deal with Cash Money Records. Quan was featured on the song "My Nigga" by YG also featuring Young Jeezy, which peaked at number 19 on the Hot 100. He was also featured on 2 Chainz' second studio album B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, on the song "Extra". In September 2013, he confirmed that he was 30% done with his debut album.
His mixtape, called I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In×I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In26 November 2013 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1They Dont Know3:012Cash Money5:303Get TF Out My Face4:244Man of the Year3:485I Fuck Wit Your Girl3:426WWYD3:18710003:238Blah Blah Blah3:069Walk Thru2:3710Reloaded3:0111Make That Money3:3712Come and Go3:5013Real2:5114Off You3:3415Hold On4:0516Party4:3517Whole Lotta3:31 was released on November 26, 2013. It was supported by the single "Walk Thru" featuring Problem. The 2013 Michigan State Spartans football team adopted "Type of Way" as an anthem, and Quan joined them on the sidelines in a green jersey at the 100th Rose Bowl, while also participating in their post-game locker-room celebration singing "Type of Way". He was named to the 2014 XXL freshman class.
On May 6, 2014, Rich Homie Quan went home to Atlanta to shoot the video for his single "Walk Thru" with Los Angeles rapper Problem. Hours later, it was reported that he had two "seizures," falling and "cracking his head" on set, according to TMZ. Rich Homie Quan cleared up the rumors by sending Billboard a statement saying that he fainted and hit his head. In this statement, he denied that the instance had anything to do with drugs. On September 29, 2014, he was part of the mixtape, called Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1. In February 2015, him, Tyga, Wale, Kid Ink, and YG released the song, "Ride Out," which would be part of the soundtrack for Furious 7.
His song "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)×Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)10 February 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)2:56" and its music video were released on April 1, 2015, on YouTube. The song peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the dance Quan did in the music video would become popular on Vine. In April 2015, he released his fifth mixtape, If You Ever Think I Will Stop Goin' In Ask Double R.
On March 16, 2017, Quan released his first single since 2015, "Replay×Replay17 March 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)". A mixtape, Back to the Basics×Back to the Basics14 April 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Never Made It1:562Heart Cold3:513Back End3:084Lord Forgive Me3:545Gamble2:426Word of Mouth3:047Da Streetz2:548Money Fold2:539Replay3:1910Safe3:4511Str83:24 followed on April 14, 2017. His debut studio album Rich as in Spirit×Rich as in Spirit16 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Reflecting3:132Fuck wit Me2:563342:494The Author3:065Same Year3:356Never Fold3:167Long Enough3:118No No No3:309Perfect Flower3:3610Achieving2:4511Deep2:5312Foot Soldier2:4213Let’s Go Up2:4114Changed2:5615Understood2:55164rm Me to U2:5517Simon Says3:1518Think About It3:1619Bossman3:08 was released on March 18, 2018. The album was supported by the two singles, "Changed×Changed15 December 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)" and "34". The album debuted at number thirty-two on the US Billboard 200.
In October 2022, Quan released the EP Family & Mula×Family & Mula4 October 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Kno No More2:312Risk Takers2:223Bigger Jeans4:094Dark Shades2:155Another One2:256Family & Mula2:207Dangerous2:128Krazy2:24, which included the single "Krazy" and one guest appearance from NoCap. Speaking of the EP's release, Quan said he felt good to have a project out after not releasing one in over three years. The EP was re-released on November 18, 2022.

Legal issues

In November 2016, Quan sued his former label Think It's A Game for $2 million for unpaid royalties. The label counter-sued him for breach of contract. Both suits were later settled out of court.
On May 28, 2017, Quan was arrested with four others on felony drug charges after being stopped at a checkpoint on Highway 1 in Louisville, Georgia. Police claimed to have recovered heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and weapons from the vehicle. Quan was charged with felony drug possession with intent to distribute.

Personal life and death

Lamar had four sons. His oldest was born in 2006, which Lamar did not know about until five years later.
On September 29, 2014, Lamar's father, Corey, was shot during an attempted robbery at a barber shop in Atlanta, but survived.
On September 5, 2024, Lamar's girlfriend told a 911 dispatcher that he was on the couch in the morning and had not moved when she returned from taking her son to school. She stated she could not feel a heartbeat, could not feel him breathing, and when she turned him over, he foamed at the mouth. Lamar died at an Atlanta hospital later that day at the age of 34. An autopsy was performed on September 6. The Fulton County medical examiner concluded that Lamar had died of an accidental overdose after taking multiple drugs, including fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine, and promethazine.