HIPHOSSIP WAS FIRST IN AFRICA TO BREAK THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF KRIS KROSS MEMBER CHRIS "MACK DADDY" KELLY.

My ATL Fam: KrisKross then and now, Me and JD and Da Brat

I was the first to break this story to Africa at 3am (10pm EDT in Atlanta) after a colleague posted it 9.57pm on the AJC website.

The 90's Kris Kross rap duo has lost one! Chris ‘Mack Daddy’ Kelly was found dead in his home in Atlanta (May 1st.) Kelly and his former bandmate, Chris “Daddy Mack” Smith, took the world by storm in the early 1990s as the duo Kris Kross, who became international superstars with their debut single “Jump.” Known for wearing their clothes backwards, the two teenagers became a phenomenon, touring with Michael Jackson and appearing on hit television shows like “A Different World” and in feature films like Who’s the Man? The group’s commercial success was guided by then-teenaged musical prodigy Jermaine Dupri, who at 19 years old, had discovered Kelly and Smith at an Atlanta shopping mall and produced their multiplatinum debut album, Totally Krossed Out.

As they got older, they fame took a dive. Both 1993s Da Bomband 1996s Young, Rich and Dangerous failed to match the blockbuster success of their debut and, as adults, the duo parted ways.

Kelly later started an independent label called Cinco Records and studied musical engineering and revealed an interview earlier this year that he was eager to try to learn recording techniques. “I just wanted to do something different. Get more on the technical side of things than just being an artist, and produce,” he told HipHopMediaTraining back in January. “I just wanted to be [the] all around best I could be as far as doing everything.”

Chris Kelly at the SoSo Def anniversary last month

Kelly and Smith reunited this past March at the So So Def 20th Anniversary concert, which celebrated Dupri’s musical legacy over the last two decades. It was the first time the duo had performed together in over 15 years.



My family at SoSo Def is extensive. I lived in Atlanta 3 years and when I met JD, there was nothing else but believing in him regardless of if his father Michael Mauldin was President or whatever at Colombia records. Haters were hating but a 19y/o was running his own label. JD kept signing these kids all over and each of them were successful. Da Brat (Shawntae Harris), Bow Wow then Lil Bow Wow, Kris Kross and others. Each became a hitmaker.

Teresa Caldwell (Bow Wow's mom)

I met Teresa Caldwell along the journey. She is Bow Wow's mom. I met the parents of the artists, DJ's and employees who worked for JD or even his dad at Artistic Control in ATL It was a journey. Every journey has to come to an end.

Hot 1079/Artistic Control DJ A

At the 20th anniversary last month, it was nice to see Kris Kross perform so well. It was a memorable journey and I was blessed to be part of it in my music coverage work.

Every Journey comes to an END. Details of Chris'death has not been released as the autopsy is today. He was 34. We will miss you Chris. Rest in Peace bro! You are FREE now.
I am also wearing my clothes backwards today. Stay strong ATL!

Love:(
# MsKemi
@HipHossip on Twitter

With Files from Keminications and Rolling Out