Chris Kelly

Who Was Chris Kelly?

Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly, along with his friend Chris Smith, gained fame as the rap duo Kris Kross after being discovered in 1990. Known for their unique fashion statement of wearing clothes backward, Kris Kross skyrocketed to prominence with their iconic 1992 hit “Jump.” Tragically, Chris Kelly passed away at the young age of 34 on May 1, 2013, in Atlanta, with a suspected cause of death attributed to a drug overdose.

Early Life

Born on August 11, 1978, in Atlanta, Georgia, Chris Kelly’s musical journey began when he was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri at the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta in 1990. Although Dupri was a teenager at the time, he recognized the potential in Kelly and Smith and sought to collaborate with them. Under Dupri’s guidance, the duo recorded a demo tape that ultimately led to their signing with Ruffhouse Records.

Kris Kross: Songs and Albums

As Kris Kross, Kelly and Smith achieved monumental success with their breakout single “Jump,” which was both written and produced by Jermaine Dupri. The song dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks in 1992. Their debut album, Totally Krossed Out (1992), was certified multiplatinum, and the duo gained opportunities to perform alongside renowned artists such as Michael Jackson. Their distinctive style of wearing clothes backward became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring fans to emulate their look.

Following the success of “Jump,” Kris Kross continued to release popular tracks, including “Warm It Up.” They ventured into other media, launching a video game titled Kris Kross: Make My Video and recording the “Rugrats Rap” for Nickelodeon’s Rugrats. However, as they matured, the duo attempted to refine their image in subsequent albums. Despite releasing two moderately successful albums, Kris Kross could not replicate the monumental success of “Jump.” The duo ultimately parted ways after the release of their 1996 album, Young, Rich and Dangerous.

Life After Kris Kross

After his time with Kris Kross, Chris Kelly remained active in the music industry, pursuing education to become a studio engineer. In 2009, images surfaced revealing Kelly with several bald spots, leading to speculation about his health. To clarify, he publicly disclosed that he was suffering from alopecia, thereby dispelling rumors about having cancer.

Although Kris Kross had disbanded, Kelly reunited with his former bandmate, Chris Smith, in February 2013 for a special performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of Jermaine Dupri’s label, So So Def.

Death and Legacy

On May 1, 2013, Chris Kelly was found unresponsive in his Atlanta home. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead that afternoon at the age of 34. Preliminary investigations suggested that his death was the result of a drug overdose.

In the wake of Kelly’s passing, an outpouring of support came from friends, family, and fans. Jermaine Dupri expressed deep sorrow, stating he had always considered Kelly a son. Rapper LL Cool J also honored Kelly by announcing he would dedicate his song “Jump On It” to him. Additionally, many fans pledged to wear their clothes backward as a tribute to the late rapper, commemorating his unique style and legacy.