Over 50,000 people watched via livestream as hundreds filed into South Fulton’s World Changers Church International to pay their respects at the funeral of Dequantes Devontay Lamar, Rich Homie Quan, 34. As the choir sang “I shall Wear A Crown,” a song traditionally sung in Black Christian churches about the afterlife and their awaited return to Jesus, Quan’s family physically placed a golden crown on top of his head, as funeral directors prepared to close the casket. Moments later, the City Council of Atlanta would give a proclamation announcing that “this day.. [is] Rich Homie Quan Memorial Day in our fair city.”
On Sept. 5, Quan was found unresponsive in his Atlanta home by his girlfriend. According to news reports, police officers did not determine any foul play, stating that “Mr. Lamar did not appear to be alert, conscious, or breathing,” and that they were advised that he did not have “any medical or underlying illness.” Despite rumors and claims that Quan died of an overdose, the cause of death has not been determined by medical examiners, and reports state that those results may take months to determine.
Rich Homie Quan was born in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 4, 1989, and came into prominence in the rap world by the mid-2010s. His breakout song, the 2013 hit “Type of Way,” gained much traction; hitting Billboard’s Top 50 and garnering remixes from the likes of Lil Wayne and Meek Mill, which helped launch Quan into becoming one of the lead voices of the era. Quan would then collaborate with Jeezy’s Rich Gang rap collective alongside Young Thug and Birdman, later forming the supergroup— and the 2013 project via Young Money and Cash Money Record’s collab —“Rich Gang.” Some of his most popular hits were “Lifestyle” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” which reached the Billboard Hot 100 charts and have over 200 million streams on Spotify to date. In 2014, his father Corey Lamar—who also served as his manager—was shot after his barbershop was targeted, a matter that has come up in the current YSL trial case. At the time of the shooting, Quan told Vlad interviewers “We’re going to leave that shit in God’s hands.” Ironically, as Quan’s funeral commenced, there was another hearing for Young Thug occurring live at the same time.
According to reports, Quan was scheduled to perform this Thursday at the Atlanta State Farm Arena, instead, mourners had opportunities to purchase tickets for his Tuesday morning memorial viewing. At first, the family wanted to keep the service private but later decided to open the service for his supporters to stream. During the funeral, which lasted nearly three hours, Quan’s five children, siblings, friends and father came to give remarks. Colleagues within the entertainment industry like Killer Mike and DC Young Fly, also spoke, providing slight comedic relief but also sincere words to encourage the family and community.
Reverend Lee C. Franklin eulogized the service using another one of Quan’s hit songs “Walk Thru” as a message of perseverance, playing off of the Psalms 23 verse: “Yea though I walk through the valley and the shadow of death I will fear no evil because God is with me.”
Quan, a baseball man, rapper, and “lover of women” (as many loved ones joked) was also profoundly spiritual and an avid Christian. His last album “Rich As In Spirit,” was referenced throughout the service and on the digital slides for streamers’ view, serving as a testament to the life after which he named himself and ultimately lived. “Today is a good day, the best day of our lives. ” Quan’s children said collectively as they led the congregation into a family prayer. “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, but today is the best day of our lives. And as we journey, throughout the day, in Jesus’ name we all pray. Amen.”
