Rich Homie Quan, a staple in Atlanta rap’s scene, died at the age of 34 on Thursday, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner. A cause of death is unknown at this time.
An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow, the office said via email.
Born Dequantes Devontay Lamar, the rapper was raised in East Atlanta and attended Ronald E. McNair High School, where he played baseball. He received a scholarship from Fort Valley State University, but decided to pursue music instead. In 2011, Lamar, then 21, was arrested and sentenced to 15 months in DeKalb County Jail.
His music career took off in 2013 with the release of his hit single “Type of Way.” The following year, he performed as part of the Cash Money group Rich Gang along with fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug. Together, the pair released classic songs like 2014′s “Lifestyle.” Last year, the AJC listed the track among the songs that shaped Atlanta rap.
“In 2014 [the song] took over the airwaves, with the rappers talking about their lavish lifestyle, but also about how they ‘came straight from the bottom to the top,’” AJC reporter Jillian Price wrote about the song. “I was in high school when it was released and the question that everyone had was, ‘What is Thug saying on his verse?’ We sang along anyway, pretty much making up our own lyrics.”
Lamar went on to release popular solo songs like 2014′s “Walk Thru” and 2015′s “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).” He dropped his debut studio album “Rich as in Spirit” in 2018. He’s frequently collaborated with other popular artists like Travis Scott, 2 Chainz and Jacquees.
An outpouring of posts from fans and peers flooded social media following the news of his death. Atlanta artists Jacquees, Quavo and Playboi Carti posted tributes to Lamar.
This week, Lamar’s name became a trending topic due to the ongoing YSL Trial, the gang and racketeering case against Young Thug and five others. The state’s key witness Kenneth Copeland, aka Woody, was asked by prosecutors about Lamar and Young Thug’s relationship. Instead of answering, he asked Young Thug the same question during the court proceeding, prompting chuckles from the rapper. Lamar was on the state’s witness list.
Lamar’s death marks the latest blow to Atlanta’s rap scene. In 2022, prominent Atlanta rappers Trouble, Takeoff and Lil Keed died. While Trouble and Takeoff died from gun violence, Lil Keed died from natural causes. All were under the age of 35. Earlier this year, Atlanta lost one of its pioneering hip-hop producers, Rico Wade, who died of heart failure at 52 in April.
The AJC reached out to Young Thug’s lawyers, who said the rapper had no statement about Lamar’s death at this time.
Lamar would’ve turned 35 next month.
This story has been updated to correct Rich Homie Quan’s age at the time of his death.
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