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Arts & Entertainment

Chris Kelly, Of '90s Hip-Hop Duo Kris Kross, Has Died At Age 34


By

Jen Carlson

Published May 1, 2013

Modified May 2, 2013


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By

Jen Carlson

Published May 1, 2013

Modified May 2, 2013


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Chris "MAC Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy MAC" Smith

Kris Kross's Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly was pronounced dead at the Atlanta Medical Center in Georgia at 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening. There are very few details, but the 34-year-old Kelly was found unresponsive in his home. According to USA Today, Investigator Betty Honey of the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office "said authorities are unsure of Kelly's cause of death and that an autopsy has yet to be performed." One is scheduled for Thursday.

Kelly was 1/2 of the 1990s hip-hop duo, whose gimmick was wearing their clothes backwards. This year they reunited at a 20th anniversary party for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label (video below). Durpi discovered the duo in a mall in Atlanta in 1990.

UPDATE: According to a report obtained by TMZ, "Kelly had been using a combination of cocaine and heroin the night before his death... cops responded to Kelly's home Wednesday afternoon and found the 34-year-old lying on the living room couch." Paramedics attempted to revive Kelly, to no avail. A friend of Kelly's told police that he "had felt nauseous all morning before passing out."

"Jump," released in 1992

At the Uptown Comedy Club, 1993

So So Def Anniversary Party, 2013

Working with Michael Jackson on "Jam"

And ICYMI: even JT still loves "Jump"

Tagged

chris kelly

death

kris kross

RIP


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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