Overview
“Hit the Quan” by iHeartMemphis—a tribute to Rich Homie Quan’s signature “hit dem folks” dance—became summer 2015’s Vine sensation, a Memphis rapper’s ode to Atlanta hip-hop culture that briefly conquered youth dance trends before fading into one-hit wonder history.
The Dance
The “Hit Dem Folks” move (originated by Rich Homie Quan):
- Lean to one side
- Arm extended with hand positioned like holding binoculars
- Freeze in the pose (often with a slight lean back)
- Repeat on opposite side
The move was already popular in Atlanta clubs and high school dances before iHeartMemphis created a song around it.
Song & Viral Spread
iHeartMemphis (Richard Colbert) released “Hit the Quan” in July 2015:
- YouTube dance video: Featured Memphis dancers executing the move
- Vine explosion: 6-second clips perfect for the move’s quick execution
- Billboard Hot 100: #15 peak (September 2015)
- Celebrity participation: NFL players, basketball stars, entertainers joining
The song functioned like “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)“—an instructional track packaging an existing dance for mass consumption.
Memphis-Atlanta Connection
The song highlighted Memphis rap’s reverence for Atlanta’s cultural dominance:
- Rich Homie Quan: Atlanta rapper who popularized “hit dem folks”
- iHeartMemphis: Memphis artist paying tribute
- Regional dance exchange: Southern hip-hop’s interconnected dance culture
This dynamic reflected Atlanta’s position as the South’s hip-hop capital, with other cities creating derivative works honoring ATL originators.
Vine’s Role
“Hit the Quan” was optimized for Vine’s 6-second format:
- Quick execution (perfect for short loops)
- Visual clarity (easy to replicate)
- Comedic potential (the pose looks inherently funny)
- Remix-ability (people adding creative contexts)
When Vine shut down (January 2017), “Hit the Quan” lost its primary distribution platform—a factor in its rapid cultural decline.
One-Hit Wonder Status
iHeartMemphis never replicated “Hit the Quan“‘s success:
- Subsequent singles flopped
- Memphis rap scene didn’t produce sustained national stars from the moment
- The song’s novelty factor (tribute to a dance) limited longevity
Like Silentó (“Watch Me”), iHeartMemphis exemplified viral dance songs’ commercial limitations—they peak fast and fade faster.
Dance Move Attribution
The song raised familiar questions:
- Rich Homie Quan created “hit dem folks” but didn’t profit most from it
- iHeartMemphis made the viral song but credited Quan in the title
- Uncredited originators: Who first did the move in Atlanta clubs?
The layers of attribution complexity (club dancer → Quan → iHeartMemphis → mass adoption) demonstrated viral culture’s credit erosion.
Legacy
“Hit the Quan” was one of the last major Vine-era dance crazes before TikTok’s dominance. It existed in the transitional period between:
- Platform-specific virality: Optimized for Vine’s format
- Regional appreciation: Memphis honoring Atlanta
- Pre-algorithm culture: Organic spread via social sharing (not algorithmic For You pages)
The song’s rapid rise and fall (summer 2015 peak, forgotten by 2016) established the pattern TikTok dances would accelerate: viral moments burning bright and brief.
Sources
- Billboard “‘Hit the Quan’ Chart Performance” (September 2015)
- Memphis Commercial Appeal “iHeartMemphis’s Local Success” (August 2015)
- Vine compilation archives (preserved post-shutdown)