From ages four to 18 the Still Goin’ In creator, played baseball. His plan was to make it to the majors — young Quan was the quintessential All-American kid — outside of a short stint served in Fulton County jail for burglary back in 2009. The 19-year-old sat in a cell under 21-hour lockdown for 15 months, so yeah, Major League Baseball dreams were a wrap, but the “Type of Way” creator drafted a long-term plan while in solitude. “It was really a conversation I had with myself,” he says matter-of-factly. “What is it? Process of elimination? So I was tryna think of everything I was good at. I never thought I was good at rap but I knew I could rap a little bit.
“I was in my jail cell critiquing my craft every night. I knew I was getting better so I just started rapping in jail. I knew these people were getting crunk. I used to always tell myself, ‘If I can get these people to get crunk with me’,” he trails off thoughtfully, “‘I know I can go home and get a couple of these girls and some dudes to get crunk with me.’ That’s what my perspective was. I came home and went to the studio.”
“Outta me, Future and Cash Out, we talk about different things. I can’t help how I sound, but I can control what I talk about.”
Just imagine how disappointed his hard-working parents must’ve been to know that their baby boy landed himself in jail while dealing in the wrong social circles. But here we are, less than five years later and Rich Homie Quan’s name is on lips across the Hip-Hop nation. Even if the hook that has most people initially intrigued is the fact that indeed Quan reminds you of someone you’ve heard before. “The two artists I’m compared to are both from Atlanta so it could be a lingo thing,” he says with a shrug, “But then I look at it like… I stay away from AutoTune. My voice, this is the same way I sound on my songs. I don’t need it.
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