LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rich Homie Quan, an Atlanta rapper who rose to fame with hit songs like “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” has passed away at the age of 33.
His real name was Dequantes Devontay Lamar, and he died at a hospital in Atlanta, as confirmed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner. The office was notified of his passing on Thursday, according to investigator Jimmy Sadler. The exact cause of death is currently unknown, with an autopsy set to take place on Friday.
Rich Homie Quan was one of the most prominent figures in hip-hop during the mid-2010s. After releasing a number of mixtapes, he gained widespread recognition in 2013 with his catchy track “Type of Way.” The song’s popularity led to remixes by other well-known artists like Jeezy and Meek Mill. He continued to build on his success by collaborating with Jeezy on a YG song and releasing “Lifestyle,” which was produced by London on da Track and featured his Rich Gang collective, alongside artists like Young Thug and Birdman.
He followed this with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz. This track became his highest-charting solo effort, peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rich Homie Quan also appeared on Lil Dicky’s viral hit “$ave Dat Money.”
In 2018, he released his first and only studio album, “Rich as in Spirit,” which featured mostly his own work, with the exception of the song “Think About It,” a collaboration with Rick Ross.
Several musicians, including Quavo, Lil Boosie, and Playboi Carti, have shared their condolences for Quan on social media. Singer Jacquees expressed his sadness, calling Quan a “legend” on X, saying, “Rest in Peace my brother Rich Homie Quan. I love you for Life.”
In a 2022 interview with The Associated Press, Quan discussed his desire to return to music following a period of absence, during which he was involved in legal issues with his independent label, T.I.G. (Think It’s a Game Record). He indicated his readiness to come back to the scene.
At that time, Quan had a fallout with Young Thug, his former collaborator. Young Thug, along with rapper Gunna, was part of a group indicted on charges concerning Georgia’s RICO Act and alleged gang involvement. Quan stated there was no ongoing feud and expressed his willingness to have a conversation with Young Thug if given the chance. He expressed concern over Young Thug’s legal troubles and shared his view on how law enforcement often targets rappers.
“I wouldn’t say unfairly targeted because, at the same time, some of these rappers are displaying firearms in their videos and it ties back to their social media presence,” he explained. “I think they’re showing too much. In my music, I tell a story, but I don’t go into all the details of how things happened. It’s still art, but we are definitely being watched, which is why I’m careful about what I say in my music.”
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Landrum and Dalton reported from Los Angeles, with additional contributions from Associated Press writer Gary Gerard Hamilton in New York. ___
This story has been updated to reflect that Quan was 33 years old, according to information from the medical examiner.
