The Tragic Dual Legacy Of "Hit The Quan": Where Are ILoveMemphis And Rich Homie Quan Now?
The 2015 viral dance craze, "Hit The Quan," remains one of the most explosive and unforgettable cultural moments of the mid-2010s, catapulting the Memphis rapper iLoveMemphis (formerly iHeartMemphis) to immediate, worldwide fame. The single peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing its place alongside other dance hits like the "Stanky Legg" and the "Whip/Nae Nae."
However, the legacy of the dance is a complex one, tied to two distinct rappers whose lives took dramatically different and often tragic turns. As of December 2025, the story of "The Quan" is less about a simple dance and more about the dual, complicated fates of the man who recorded the song and the man who inspired it.
iLoveMemphis (Richard Colbert) Profile & Career Snapshot
The man behind the infectious track, iLoveMemphis, has navigated a turbulent post-fame career marked by legal issues and a struggle to replicate his initial success. He is also known for creating the "Lean and Dab" dance.
- Real Name: Richard Maurice Colbert
- Also Known As: iHeartMemphis
- Date of Birth: March 29, 1993
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Notable Singles: "Hit The Quan" (2015), "Lean and Dab" (2015)
- Post-Fame Projects: Released the single "POPPING (feat. Jbreeshhh)" in July 2024
- Legal Troubles: Charged with aggravated rape in 2015, shortly after the song's release, and faced a maximum sentence of 60 years if convicted; arrested in Miami in May 2022
- Estimated Net Worth (2022 Revenue): Approximately $13,000, indicating a significant drop from his viral peak
The Viral Origin: From Rich Homie Quan to a Global Dance Craze
The command to "Hit the Quan" is a direct homage to Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan, whose birth name was Dequantes Lamar. The dance itself originated from Rich Homie Quan’s impromptu movements while performing his 2015 hit single, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)."
iLoveMemphis, then known as iHeartMemphis, saw the dance and immediately rushed to the studio to record a song dedicated to the move. The resulting track became a cultural phenomenon, fueled by social media platforms like Vine and YouTube, where countless celebrities, athletes, and everyday users posted their own attempts at the stepping, squatting, and arm-swinging movements.
The song’s success was a testament to the power of viral marketing in the mid-2010s, bypassing traditional music industry gatekeepers and becoming a global hit almost overnight. It was a perfect storm of a catchy beat, simple, repeatable movements, and the endorsement of a popular figure.
The Shadow of Legal Controversy and The 'One-Hit Wonder' Label
While the song dominated airwaves, the career of iLoveMemphis quickly became overshadowed by serious legal allegations. In July 2015, the same month his song was released, Richard Colbert was charged with aggravated rape in Memphis, Tennessee. The charge involved the alleged gang rape of an intoxicated woman in the Raleigh neighborhood. This controversy severely impacted his public image and career trajectory, making it difficult for him to sustain the momentum of his debut hit.
Despite releasing follow-up singles like "Lean and Dab," iLoveMemphis struggled to avoid the "one-hit wonder" label, a common fate for artists whose fame is tied directly to a fleeting dance trend. His reported low revenue in 2022 further illustrates the drastic decline in his mainstream visibility and financial success following the initial viral explosion.
The Tragic End of The Quan: Rich Homie Quan's 2024 Death
The most significant and tragic update to the "Hit The Quan" story occurred in September 2024. The inspiration for the global dance, Rich Homie Quan (Dequantes Lamar), died at the age of 34.
His passing was a stark reminder of the often-volatile nature of the music industry and the personal struggles faced by many artists. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the cause of death as an accidental drug overdose.
The toxicology report revealed that the Atlanta rapper had a fatal combination of multiple substances in his system, including:
- Fentanyl
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Codeine
- Promethazine
Rich Homie Quan’s death in late 2024 brought renewed, somber attention to the "Hit The Quan" phenomenon. It transformed the song from a nostalgic reminder of a fun dance craze into a piece of a more complex and sorrowful narrative. His legacy now rests on his contributions to the Atlanta rap scene, his charting hits like "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)," and his unexpected, indirect role in launching one of the most famous viral dances of the decade.
The story of "The Quan Hit The Quan" is ultimately a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of internet fame. It’s a narrative that begins with a joyful, spontaneous dance and ends with two very different, yet equally challenging, post-fame realities for the two rappers whose names are forever linked to the global sensation.
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