Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan dead at 33; 911 call released
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quann, whose real name is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, has died. He was 34.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death to FOX 5.
Social media began blowing up with the news the rapper's death early Thursday afternoon.
Thugger Daily, who has become an armchair expert on the Young Thug and YSL trial, was one of the first to post the news.
TMZ later reported they were told by Lamar's family that he died Thursday in his home. On Thursday evening, they released the 911 call reportedly made by Lamar's girlfriend. During the phone call, Amber Williams said that she found Lamar's lifeless body on a couch after she dropped off their son at school.
Multiple reports say Quann died from a drug overdose. However, that information has not been confirmed. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6.
When did Rich Homie Quan's career begin?
Rich Homie Quan began rapping in 2011 and his first mainstream success was "Type of Way" in 2013. His 2015 single, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)" was also well received.
He was nominated for various BET Hip Hop awards, including Best New Artist and Best Club Banger, in 2014 and 2015. He was also nominated for iHeartRadio Music Awards' Hip Hop Song of the Year in 2016.
He also joined Young Thug on the Cash Money Records project, "Rich Gang," and often collaborated with rappers 2 Chainz and Jacquees.
Lamar was born in Atlanta and played baseball while attending Ronald McNair Sr. High School, with the aspiration of playing professionally. He briefly attended Fort Valley State University before reportedly dropping out because of money.
The rapper was scheduled to perform Sept. 19 with Nick Cannon, Rip Michaels, Waka Flocka, Mardo Wick, Lil Boosie and others.
Kenneth Copeland talks about rapper during YSL RICO trial
The former star witness in the Young Thug and YSL RICO trial, Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland, admitted on the stand that he and his friend known as "Threat" were responsible for the shooting of Lamar's father at his barbershop in 2014. The state's prosecutors were trying to tie the crime to Young Thug, but Copeland said that he had nothing to do with it.
Although Homie Rich Quan and Young Thug collaborated often several years ago, their relationship was no longer the same.
When Copeland was asked about that relationship on the stand, Copeland responded "Thug, did you have an issue with Rich Homie… " before being cut off. The exchanged prompted laughter in the courtroom, Young Thug included.
Lamar and his father were listed as potential witnesses in the trial on a supplemental list of witness filed Jan. 4, 2023.
In 2017, Lamar was stopped by police in Louisville, Georgia. Police found multiple drugs in his vehicle and he was charged with felony drug possession with intent to distribute. The case was later dismissed, according to TMZ.
NOTE: Rich Homie Quan's age was initially reported as 34. However, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed his birthdate as Oct. 4, 1990. He would have been 34 next month.