Rapper Rich Homie Quan, 34, who rose to fame with who rose to fame with Young Thug, died of an accidental drug overdose.
The Atlanta-based Ride Out singer, whose real name was Dequantes Lamar, died on September 5 from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, alprazolam (Xanax), codeine, and promethazine, an autopsy report obtained by Newsweek from the Fulton County Medical Examiner states.
The manner of death is ruled an accident.
Alprazolam (Xanax) is one of the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications in the United States. Codeine is an opioid pain reliever that can also be combined with other medications to reduce coughing.
Promethazine is used to manage and treat allergic conditions, nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and sedation. When mixed with codeine, cough syrup, soda, hard candy, an antihistamine — sometimes alcohol — it creates lean, also known as Sizurp or Purple Drink, which is often referenced in rap music.
Audio of the 911 call shared with various outlets captured the rapper’s girlfriend Amber Williams crying on the phone as she explained how her boyfriend had been “asleep on the couch since this morning, but he never came to bed last night.”
She added that she’d left him on the couch before taking her son to school in the morning and put a blanket on him “because he was cold.”
Williams explained that now she couldn’t “see him breathing,” and “couldn’t feel a heartbeat,” and when she tried to turn him over “he kind of foamed at the mouth.”
The rapper’s girlfriend was then asked if she had a defibrillator nearby, to which she responded, “I don’t know what that is.”
Williams was then instructed to lie Rich Homie Quan on his back on the floor and remove anything under his head.
“He is not waking up, quick,” Williams frantically told the operator.
After she was able to get the rapper on the floor, in the final moments of the audio call, she was guided through how to perform CPR.
Rich Homie Quan was pronounced dead after being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Rich Homie Quan initially gained attention alongside Young Thug due to their collaboration in particular on the popular mixtape Rich Gang: Tha Tour Part 1.
Their relationship eventually resulted in public feuds, the details of which are widely varied, but seemingly revolve around their differing views on their careers.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and several co-defendants are currently facing charges related to racketeering conspiracy and participation in criminal street gang activity, along with drug and gun charges, in an ongoing trial.
Other rappers who died from overdoses
Rich Homie Quan joins a growing list of rappers who died of drug overdoses.
Lil Peep died in 2017 from a combination of fentanyl and Xanax.
A year later, Mac Miler died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, alcohol, and cocaine.
Fredo Santana also died in 2018 from a seizure linked to his history of drug use.
Juice WRLD died in 2019 after suffering a seizure, with the autopsy revealing oxycodone and codeine in his system.
In 2021, DMX’s death was attributed to a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose, though the specifics were not publicly detailed.