Man, it feels like there’s this heavy cloud hanging over me. I can’t remember ever being this low. I went from feeling okay to totally crushed in no time.
So, my boyfriend’s been sleeping on the couch since this morning. He didn’t come to bed last night, so I left him there when I took my son to school. I even covered him with a blanket, but when I checked on him later, he was still out. I couldn’t feel a heartbeat or see him breathing.
And then you said, “Wait, he was on the couch, and what happened?”
Breaking news: Rapper Rich Homie Quan has reportedly passed away at 34. TMZ says he was found dead at his home in Atlanta today. The cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet. This news has hit the hip-hop world hard. Everyone’s still trying to wrap their heads around it. As usual, rumors are flying—some people think he might have overdosed, while others are saying he could have taken a laced pill.
Quan’s girlfriend, who found him unresponsive, has shared a few details, but the full story is still unclear. Regardless of the cause, the loss has left fans and industry friends devastated. This is also sparking conversations about the risks of recreational drug use, highlighting how we’ve lost too many young lives to this issue.
“Yeah, did you manage to get him to the floor?”
“Yeah, but his heart’s not beating.”
The world was stunned on September 5th when news broke that Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan, whose real name was Quan Devonte Lamar, had died at just 34. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed his passing to Fox 5, sending shockwaves through the music industry. The first to share the heartbreaking news was Thugger Daily on X, an account known for its detailed coverage of the Young Thug and YSL trial. At around 7:00 p.m. on September 5th, Thugger Daily posted: “Hearing Rich Homie Quan passed away today due to a possible OD. Please don’t let this be true.”
TMZ later reported that Lamar’s family had confirmed his death at his home in Atlanta. The tragedy was compounded later that evening when a 911 call made by his girlfriend, Amber Williams, was released. In the emotional call, she describes finding Rich Homie Quan unresponsive on the couch after dropping their son off at school.
“Stay on the line with me, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Operator 7214, what’s the location of your emergency?”
“I need police, fire, and an ambulance.”
“I need an ambulance. Can you tell me exactly what happened?”
“My boyfriend has been sleeping on the couch all day. He didn’t come to bed last night. I left him there with a blanket before taking my son to school, and when I came back, he never woke up. I can’t find a heartbeat and he’s not breathing.”
“He’s on the couch, and what happened then?”
“I covered him because he gets cold. He was in the living room. Now, I see he hasn’t moved, and he’s not breathing. There’s no heartbeat, and he’s drooled.”
“Are you saying he’s not breathing at all?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, if there’s a defibrillator available, get it now and let me know when you have it.”
“I’m not sure what that is.”
“Alright, I’m sending paramedics to you now. Stay on the line and I’ll guide you through the next steps.”
“I need to know his age—”
“He’s 34.”
“Okay, are you right there with him?”
“Yes.”
“Please put your phone on speaker so you can use both hands.”
Can I add his dad to this call? He’s trying to reach me back because I called him before I called you.”
“Alright, we need to focus on helping your boyfriend right now.”
“Listen closely. Lay him flat on his back on the floor and remove anything that’s underneath his head.”
“He’s not waking up.”
“Move quickly.”
“Ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“Okay, get him to the floor. Make sure he’s flat on his back and remove anything from under his head.”
“Flat on his back on the floor?”
“Yes, ma’am. Please, hurry.”
“He’s not—”
“Did you manage to get him on the floor?”
“Yes, but his heart isn’t beating.”
“There’s no official cause of death yet, but rumors are swirling that it might have been an overdose. Booy was among the first to suggest this in a tweet that’s since been deleted, saying, ‘Just got word that Rich Homie Quan just OD’ed. Just talked to him the other day.’ While nothing’s been confirmed, it’s known that Rich Homie Quan struggled with substance abuse. An old interview resurfaced where he talked about his addiction and the decline of his career.
What’s even more heartbreaking is that Quan mentioned a family member first gave him something to keep him going during back-to-back shows. But like often happens, his use quickly spiraled out of control, and eventually, he couldn’t get through the day without it.
“Man, I feel like there’s a dark cloud over me right now. I’d definitely say this is the lowest point I’ve ever been. I went from doing well to hitting rock bottom so fast. I blame myself and I know it’s my fault. I’ve grown a lot since then, even if I said things years ago in an interview that don’t reflect who I am now. Don’t hold that against me.”
You know what I mean? I’m an adult now, and back then, I didn’t really get it. Was it—oh, absolutely. I was on Miley every single day, just buzzing. I felt like I couldn’t do a show or record a track without being on it. When did it all start? When did the habit kick in?
It all began on the road. When I first started, doing shows for $800, I wasn’t drinking or using lean or anything like that. But as time went on and we were doing so many shows, I needed to stay awake. Some people I knew said, “I’ve got something to keep you up.” And that’s how it all began.
If you don’t mind me asking, who introduced you to that? Was it someone in the industry, a friend, or a family member? It was family.
Back in May 2014, Rich Homie Quan was shooting the music video for his single “Walk Through” with LA rapper Problem in Atlanta. Everything seemed fine until TMZ reported that Quan had two seizures on set and even hit his head when he fell. This led to some speculation about his rumored use of lean, which has been linked to seizures. Lil Wayne had a similar issue in 2016 after reportedly consuming a lot of lean.
However, Quan quickly addressed the rumors. He clarified to Billboard that he didn’t have a seizure but fainted and hit his head. He denied any substance use was involved, saying, “I want to thank my fans and everyone who was concerned about me. I want to clear up a couple of things: After traveling across three states in three days, being up early, shooting my video for ‘Walk Through,’ and dealing with the humid Atlanta heat, I fainted and hit my head. It’s no secret I like to party, but I’m not addicted to anything, and I wasn’t using lean at the shoot. The media might spread false stories, but I want my fans to know I’m fine and recovering. I promise I’ll keep pushing forward.”
Here’s a quick rundown on Rich Homie Quan: He grew up in Atlanta and originally dreamed of playing pro baseball. He even went to Fort Valley State University but had to drop out due to financial issues. Quan started rapping in 2011, and his big break came in 2013 with the hit “Type of Way.” You probably remember his 2015 hit “Flex (Ooh Ooh).” He got a bunch of nominations at the BET Hip-Hop Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards. He’s also worked with big names like Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and Jacquees.
So, how are you handling all the success? There’s a lot of hard work paying off. How does it feel to be on the green carpet and representing Atlanta?
It feels amazing. I keep God first, stay grounded, and never forget where I come from. I’m grateful for every moment and take it seriously.
In late 2016, Quan had some trouble with his former label, Think It’s a Game, and sued them for $2 million for unpaid royalties. The label countersued him for breach of contract, and both cases were settled out of court. Because of the legal issues, Quan couldn’t release new music for 2.5 years. On top of that, he faced legal trouble over substance possession. On May 28, 2017, he was arrested with heroin, weed, paraphernalia, and weapons in his vehicle. He was charged with felony substance possession with intent to distribute.
Despite these setbacks, Quan didn’t give up. In October 2022, he released the EP Family and Moola, featuring the single “Crazy” and a guest spot from Noap. Quan was excited to drop new music after a long break and wanted to focus on spreading a positive message. He told All Hip Hop, “I feel like if we stop rapping about guns, there won’t be as much violence. Music influences culture a lot. If I’m rapping about violence, it can lead to fights at my shows. I want my music to be relatable and motivating. I hope it inspires people to make positive changes, like buying a house instead of jewelry. I’m older now, so I see things differently.”
Quan was set to hit the stage on September 19th with Nick Cannon, Waka Flocka, Lil Boosie, and others. It’s heartbreaking to think he was so close to making a comeback. What makes it even more tragic is that he leaves behind five kids—four sons and a daughter. His children include 16-year-old Devon and 8-year-old Cosen from previous relationships, and his daughter Elena. He also had two younger children with his longtime girlfriend Amber Williams: Royal Rich, born on April 19th, 2014, and Leer Leonis, born on January 11th, 2021.
Rich Homie Quan’s sudden passing has really shaken up the hip-hop world. Fans and fellow artists are pouring their hearts out on social media, expressing their shock and sadness. Many are using this as a moment to reflect on the struggles of addiction. One fan said, “This should really open our eyes about addiction. We need to find better ways to handle our pain.”
Some are even suggesting that Quan’s death might have been caused by a laced pill rather than an overdose. A post on X claimed, “Rich Homie Quan wasn’t just another overdose victim; he was poisoned. We need to start holding dealers accountable and stop calling these deaths overdoses.”
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there’s more to the story? Drop a comment below and let me know what you think. I’ll keep you posted with any new updates as they come in.