Chris Kelly, also known as Mac Daddy, one half of the 90s super duo Kriss Kross (he was the brown skinned one), passed away Wednesday afternoon. He was found unresponsive in his Atlanta home and died at a local hospital.
Kriss Kross shot to fame in the early nineties after being discovered by Jermaine Dupri in an Atlanta mall. Their first album, "Totally Krossed Out," went multiplatinum in 1992, propelled by the smash single "Jump," which spent eight weeks on the charts, and "Warm It Up," the follow-up single. Their rap style, considered very mature for their age, was seen as skilled and keen, bringing just enough edge to the young rappers without appearing overly gangster. They developed a huge following, partially because of their signature style of dress, in which they wore their clothes, tops and jeans, completely backwards.
Subsequent albums during the latter portion of the nineties failed to be as successful as their debut. They faded into obscurity, going on to other projects and ventures. They did reunite earlier this year for a 20th anniversary party for Jermaine Dupri and So So Def, their former manager, ghostwriter and label.
Chris' cause of death is pending an autopsy, but Atlanta police are stating that personal sources and items found in Chris' home lead to a belief that his death was caused by a drug overdose. A dedication article will be forthcoming in the following days. Rhyme in peace, Chris. I know...you're about to.
Life is fragile
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