The city of Atlanta is mourning, and the Falcons have acknowledged those emotions.
After the team’s initial scoring drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Sept. 8 season-opener at home, DJ Big Tigger played a brief mix dedicated to Rich Homie Quan, the popular Atlanta rapper who died on Sept. 5 at the age of 33.
The mix included “Some Type of Way,” “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” and “Walk Thru.”
The camera panned to Pastor Troy, who was in the Falcons’ fan section behind Tigger. Troy pointed up his index finger and nodded his head to the rhythm of Quan’s biggest commercial singles as a solo act. Other fans on the Falcons’ halo board began doing Quan’s famous dance that went along to “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” which came out in 2015.
At the end of the first quarter, four-time Grammy Award winner Killer Mike performed “Kryptonite (I’m on It)” and “Kill Jill.”
“Rest in peace, Rich Homie Quan,” Mike said after the performance. “Love and respect, Atlanta, Georgia. Go Falcons.”
Quan has received many tributes following his death. A local high school in the metro area played “Lifestyle” at a pep rally. Quan was featured on the song as a part of the Rich Gang group.
Forever an Atlanta legend 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/veyyWaJXt8
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) September 7, 2024
There was also a tribute at Revolt’s Back in Session HBCU Tour 2024 stop on Sept. 6. The Coulda Fest, hosted by Druski at a sold-out State Farm Arena included a tribute with DJ A-One, who went viral for singing “Lifestyle” with Quan.
Quan was a huge Falcons fan and was a part of the team’s hip-hop 50 celebration in the 2023 season. He grew up playing baseball and even earned a scholarship from Fort Valley State University before he returned home to pursue his music career.
When Deion Sanders Jr. reached out to Quan for him to call his father, Quan responded how he’d been waiting on that call his “whole life.” Sanders, of course, is a legendary 1990s figure in Atlanta sports history for being the best player on the Falcons as a cornerback and also a player for the Braves. He’s widely considered to be the best cornerback in the history of the NFL and one of the most famous figures in Atlanta sports history.
Crazy bro https://t.co/bCrBP1Cr4G pic.twitter.com/YtlDdrK9KY
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) September 6, 2024
“Lord, that news regarding @RichHomieQuan Hurt,” Sanders, who now coaches the University of Colorado, posted on X. “I just spoke to my brother a couple of weeks ago. He introduced me to his son who was playing youth football. They were gonna come to a game. Will someone from the family please reach my son @DeionSandersJr. We’re praying for y’all.”
Sanders went viral for using Quan’s chorus on YG’s 2014 single “My N—-” as his theme song before games one season.
Sanders has a history of honoring his commitment to honoring families of fallen rappers. He’s hosted the family of Young Dolph at prior games before, following the death of the Memphis, Tennessee, rapper who once performed in the Jackson State football locker room after a win.
