"Homie Quan: The Atlanta Rap Supernova Who Faded from the Spotlight"

 There's a video I frequently revisit. Posted just over a decade ago by a now-defunct blog called Houston Hip-Hop Fix, it features Rich Homie Quan in a blue Argentina soccer kit and multiple necklaces. The scene is intermittently illuminated by the strobe light of a police car. With only one microphone, Quan and the interviewer frequently talk over each other, offering polite apologies as they vie for air time. Quan shares the usual interview tropes: the debut album is on the way, no more free mixtapes, music is his lifeblood, and no, he doesn’t write his lyrics down.

About 90 seconds in, Quan begins discussing his chemistry with Young Thug. Initially, it’s typical interview fare, but after an awkward jump cut, Quan reveals that he and Thug are set to release an EP. When asked about the release date, Quan confidently responds, “Before the year’s out.” The interviewer inquires about the EP’s title, but Quan declines to disclose it. Instead, he strokes his goatee, briefly makes eye contact with the camera—something he hadn’t done until now—and emphasizes his point by tapping the interviewer’s arm. “I can tell you this,” he says. “The EP me and Thug [are going to] drop? The hardest duo since Outkast.” The interviewer’s eyes widen in surprise, but Quan interrupts before he can respond, asserting, “I’m not being funny. I’m not exaggerating. Hardest duo since Outkast.”

Rich Homie Quan, who passed away Thursday, a month before his 34th birthday, was known for this blend of audacity wrapped in charm and humility. A natural hitmaker, his career was marred by record label disputes, contractual issues, and the shifting industry landscape of the 2010s. Like other Southern rap pioneers, Quan crafted songs that combined formal experimentation with personal introspection, constantly delving deeper into his psyche with each new flow or harmonic twist. He leaves behind four sons.

Born Dequantes Devontay Lamar in 1990 and raised in Atlanta, Quan excelled as a teenage center fielder and literature student but struggled with a brief stint in burglary, leading to a 15-month prison sentence after dropping out of Fort Valley State University. “It really sat me down and opened my eyes,” he told XXL about his time in prison.

His music was marked by striking titles. In 2012, Quan released his debut mixtape, *I Go In on Every Song*, which nearly lived up to its name. Early the following year, he achieved national recognition with “Type of Way,” a track that blended toughness with sensitivity, wrapped in charisma. The single, released by Def Jam, suggested a label deal that didn’t materialize due to ongoing litigation with Think It’s a Game Entertainment.

“Type of Way” emerged as Future was redefining rap radio, yet Quan’s verses leaned more towards traditional rapping, using melody to enhance rather than dominate. The track was a complex blend of swagger and vulnerability, balancing taunts with introspective lines about personal and legal struggles.

Quan's discography grew with titles like *Still Goin In*, the Gucci Mane collaboration *Trust God Fuck 12*, and *I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In*. Hits like “Walk Thru” with Problem, and the hook he wrote for YG in 2013, highlighted his knack for crafting memorable tracks. By 2015, his single “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” went triple platinum, epitomizing his style with joyous, wobbly descriptions of success.

Meanwhile, his collaborator Young Thug faced similar criticisms, with both artists often dismissed as inadequate by detractors. Yet, their partnership delivered in September 2014 with *Tha Tour, Pt. 1*, an ambitious but underappreciated project. The anticipated tour never fully materialized, and the release was marred by legal battles and delays, leaving *Tha Tour* nearly invisible on streaming platforms. Despite this, it captured the duo’s eccentricity and innovative spirit—exactly as Quan had promised: the hardest duo since Outkast.

*Tha Tour* could be argued as one of the decade’s best rap records, featuring Thug at his peak and showcasing Quan’s remarkable presence. His verses, such as on the song “Flava,” combine buoyant storytelling with personal reflection, while “Freestyle” reveals deep emotional layers.

After Quan’s death, Quavo of Migos posted an Instagram story reflecting on their conversations and tagging Offset, highlighting the ongoing impact of Atlanta’s rap scene despite recent tragedies. With the deaths of artists like Quan and Takeoff, and Young Thug’s ongoing legal troubles, the once-dominant Atlanta rap scene is now overshadowed by loss and legal struggles.

Following “Flex,” Quan’s career faced setbacks due to record label issues and a lack of promotional support. His 2017 album *Back to the Basics* was overshadowed by Kendrick Lamar’s surprise release of *DAMN* on the same day.

In the 2019 film *Uncut Gems*, the Safdie Brothers' commitment to realism is exemplified by a scene featuring “Type of Way,” despite its anachronism with the film’s 2012 setting. This moment encapsulates Quan’s career: slightly out of sync with time but undeniably impactful.

Paul Thompson is the senior editor at the Los Angeles Review of Books, with work featured in Rolling Stone, New York magazine, and GQ.