When Rich Homie Quan first immersed himself in music, he vowed to never to stop going in. The rapper's impressive, if not brief, career is proof that Quan kept his word. 

The Atlanta-based artist is best known for influencing the city’s trap music output via hits like "Type of Way" and "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)" died on Thursday, Sept. 5, at age 34. His family told TMZ that they were "shattered and heartbroken" to report Quan's sudden passing. As of publish, his cause of death is still unknown.

Before he became known to the world as Rich Homie Quan, the rapper was born Dequantes Devontay Lamar on Oct. 4, 1989. In early interviews, the "Man Of The Year" emcee described himself as a shy kid who loved reading and dreamed of becoming a baseball player.

Despite earning a scholarship to the HBCU Fort Valley State University, Quan’s love for the sport waned as he set his sights on making music. His entry into Atlanta's rap scene in 2011 coincided with an electrifying period for rap music in the city that also saw the rise of GRAMMY-nominated rap trio Migos. Quan helped pioneer the defining sound of Atlanta trap, and his emotionally charged lyrics and a dynamic flow influenced a generation of melodic rappers that the culture reveres today.

Quan’s early string of mixtapes, first released in 2012, showcased his hunger and ultimately, his ability to create bangers. His first three projects — I Go In on Every Song, Still Goin In, and Still Goin In: Reloaded — soundtracked clubs, house parties and college campuses, and college campuses during the 2010s. While hits like "Difference" and "Walk Thru" broke through nationally, Rich Homie Quan's music held special significance in the South.

Shortly after dropping his infectious "Type of Way" and hopping on YG’s 2013 "My N—" remix alongside fellow Atlanta emcee Jeezy, Quan's profile skyrocketed. Rich Homie Quan embarked on his first tour, joined New York rapper Trinidad James on his first headlining tour, and was the first artist signed to indie label T.I.G. Entertainment. Quan, who had never performed at a "real show" before going on the road with James, recalled learning a lot from the rapper about their craft and the ins and outs of the business.

Quan's desire to overcome hardships was regularly detailed in lyrics, including "Achievin" from his 2018 debut album, Rich As In Spirit.  "Ain’t never had nothin’, use that for motivation," Quan rapped on the track. "Can’t rush what God got for you, you got to have patience." This constant drive for success allowed Rich Homie Quan to become more than a regional rapper; he claimed a stake in his hometown of Atlanta, proving to be a continuation of Andre 3000’s sentiment that the "South had something to say."

Learn more: A Guide To Southern Hip-Hop: Definitive Releases, Artists & Subgenres From The Dirty South

In 2014, he reunited with former middle school classmate Young Thug, as a member of Cash Money Records' hip-hop collective Rich Gang. Quan and Young Thug mastered the art of working in synchronization, crafting magic to produce career-defining hits like "Get TF Out My Face," "Tell Em," and platinum-certified hit "Lifestyle." 

By 2015, Quan was becoming acclimated to the charts, with "Lifestyle" peaking at No. 18 on Billboard's R&B chart in 2014 and the "My N—" remix charting at No. 22 the year prior. If he wasn’t already on the radar as one of hip-hop’s rising stars, Quan's "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)," which went double-platinum in the same year, solidified that he was here to stay and would never shy away from "going in."

During a 2020 Pandora Playback event held in Atlanta, Quan recalled deciding to pursue music full-time after a short stint in jail following a burglary charge in 2011. "I just wanted to tell my story," he told SiriusXM and Pandora Vice President of Music Programming Joshua "J1" Radford.

"I just remember me being so hungry, bro," he continued. "Knowing I had just did 15 months, I said I’m ready to tell my story to the world. I don’t care how the people accept me, as long as I just be true to myself and keep it real with myself."

Along with his contributions to Atlanta and the rap game, Quan leaves behind four children. "Fatherhood means everything to me," Quan said during the playback. "My dad showed me a lot, and I’m tryna just show my kids even more." 

Quan's father, Corey Lamar, was his manager from the very beginning of his rap career. "Mr. CEO, that’s what my title say," Quan uttered on "Type of Way" in 2014, but he always believed in dedication and hard work — a virtue Rich Homie Quan instilled into his children, just as it had been taught to him.

When Rich Homie Quan decided to make his music dreams a reality, he vowed to use his art to be the voice of people who not only looked like him but had the same sense of purpose.

"Rich as in spirit, homie as in brother," Quan said, explaining the meaning behind his stage name during an appearance on Civil TV’s "Welcome to My Neighborhood" in 2014. With his sudden passing,  Rich Homie Quan's legacy is the determination required to fulfill your dreams.