In 2013, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing that distinct, melodic rasp. It was everywhere. It was in the clubs, blaring from car windows in Atlanta, and eventually, it became the unofficial anthem of the Michigan State football team. Rich Homie Quan didn't just release a song; he released a feeling. When people search for the some type of way lyrics, they aren't usually looking for complex metaphors or Shakespearean depth. They’re looking for that specific intersection of triumph and "haters-gonna-hate" energy that defined an era of melodic trap.
It’s weird how music ages. Some tracks feel like a time capsule you never want to open again, but Quan’s breakout hit has this strange, staying power. It's because the core sentiment is universal. Everyone has felt that specific sting of success making people around them act differently.
What Rich Homie Quan Was Actually Saying
The song starts with that iconic line about making a girl feel "some type of way," but it quickly pivots into a broader commentary on status and perception. "He don't like the way I'm flexing / He feel some type of way." It’s simple. It’s direct. Honestly, the genius of the some type of way lyrics lies in the ambiguity of the phrase itself. To feel "some type of way" can mean you’re jealous, you’re attracted, you’re annoyed, or you’re just plain confused. Quan took a colloquialism that had been floating around the South for years and turned it into a brand.
The production by Yung Carter provided the perfect canvas. It had this bright, almost triumphant synth line that contrasted with Quan’s gritty, soulful delivery. If you look closely at the second verse, he’s talking about the transition from the struggle to the spotlight. He mentions the Versace, the "new whip," and the reality of his father being proud of him. It’s a classic rap trope, sure, but there was a vulnerability in Quan’s voice that felt more authentic than the hyper-masculine bravado of his peers at the time.
He wasn't just bragging. He was acknowledging the awkwardness of growth.
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The Atlanta Sound in 2013
Atlanta was in a state of flux. Future was beginning his legendary run, Young Thug was just starting to bubble up with 1017 Thug, and the Migos were "Versace-ing" everything in sight. Rich Homie Quan fit right in the middle. He had the melody of a singer but the grit of a rapper who had actually seen the inside of a jail cell—something he frequently referenced to ground his more flashy lyrics.
Why the Lyrics Became a Cultural Phenomenon
Most people forget that the song's reach went way beyond the Billboard Hot 100. It reached the locker rooms. The Michigan State Spartans adopted it during their Rose Bowl-winning season. Seeing a bunch of college athletes and even their coach, Mark Dantonio, doing the "Rich Homie dance" to these lyrics was a surreal moment in sports culture. It proved that the song’s vibe—overcoming odds and making the opposition feel "some type of way"—wasn't just for the streets. It was for anyone winning.
The lyrics are actually quite repetitive, which is a common critique of 2010s trap. But that’s by design. The hook is an earworm. By the time he gets to the third "some type of way," you’re already subconsciously nodding. He uses internal rhyme schemes that make the song feel like one long, flowing thought rather than a structured verse-chorus-verse composition.
For example, when he raps about "Every time I look up, I see my face in the media," he’s touching on the suddenness of his fame. It happened fast. One minute he was a local Atlanta favorite, and the next, he was the guy the entire industry was trying to copy.
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Misunderstandings and the "Mumble Rap" Label
A lot of old-school hip-hop heads tried to dismiss Quan. They called it mumble rap. They said the some type of way lyrics were incoherent. That’s a lazy take. If you actually sit with the song, you realize he’s using his voice as an instrument. The slurring of certain words is a stylistic choice meant to convey emotion over clinical precision. It’s bluesy. It’s soulful.
The late Rich Homie Quan—who we tragically lost in 2024—was a master of the "pain song." Even in his upbeat tracks, there was a layer of melancholy. When he says he’s "dropping the top on the bird," he isn't just talking about a car; he’s talking about freedom.
- The Hook: It’s the ultimate "mood" setter.
- The Verses: They provide the context for the flex.
- The Ad-libs: "Ad-libbing" wasn't just background noise for Quan; it was the glue. His "lifestyle" and "hey-hey" ad-libs are just as famous as the lyrics themselves.
The Impact of the Lyricism on Future Artists
You can see the DNA of this song in artists like Lil Baby, Gunna, and Rod Wave. They all owe a debt to the way Quan structured his bars. He showed that you could be melodic without being a "singer" in the traditional sense. You could talk about the trap and the struggle while still making a song that could play at a wedding or a football game.
The lyrics also sparked a million memes. In the early days of Vine and Instagram, people used the audio to describe everything from a bad breakup to getting a promotion. It was one of the first songs of the social media era to truly go viral in a way that impacted the lexicon of everyday people.
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Key Lines That Defined the Track
"I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man."
It sounds arrogant on paper. But in the context of the song, it feels like an affirmation. It’s the sound of someone who finally made it through the storm.
Another standout is: "I'm a soldier, a veteran, I should have a uniform." This refers back to his time spent incarcerated and his "stripes" earned in the streets of Atlanta. He isn't just playing a character. He’s telling you he’s been through it.
How to Apply the "Some Type of Way" Energy Today
If you're looking for the some type of way lyrics because you need a boost of confidence, you're looking in the right place. The song is a masterclass in ignoring the noise. In a world where everyone has an opinion on your life via social media, Quan’s lyrics offer a simple solution: just keep winning until they feel some type of way about it.
Don't over-explain yourself.
Don't shrink to make others comfortable.
Understand that your success will naturally create friction with people who haven't found their own.
Rich Homie Quan’s legacy isn't just a handful of hits. It's the way he captured a specific, fleeting feeling and turned it into a permanent part of the hip-hop canon. When you listen to the song now, it’s not just about the 2013 nostalgia. It’s a reminder that authenticity—even if it's a bit messy or "mumbled"—will always resonate more than perfection.
Next Steps for Music Fans:
To truly understand the depth of Quan's writing, go beyond this single. Listen to his I Promise I Will Never Report To Texas mixtape or his work with Young Thug in Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1. You’ll see that the lyricism in "Some Type of Way" was just the tip of the iceberg for a rapper who understood the power of a good hook better than almost anyone else in his generation. Check out the official lyric videos to catch the nuances in his Atlanta slang that you might have missed on the first listen.