Celebrity News May 02, 2013
Kriss Kross Rapper Chris Kelly Dead at 34
Chris Kelly, a member of the 1990s rap duo Kriss Kross, died at his home in Atlanta on Wednesday. He was 34.
"It appears it may have been a possible drug overdose," Cpl. Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County police, told Associated Press.
According to TMZ, his mother called paramedics around 3 PM requesting medical help. When they arrived, they found the singer on the living room couch with “no signs of life.” Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at Atlanta Medical Center a few hours later.
The site also reports that Kelly's mother, Donna Pratt, told police she believed he was using a mixture of heroin and cocaine (speedballs) the night before he died. She had taken the rapper home to recover from the drug use, and said that he felt nauseous that morning before passing out.
Donna and Kelly's uncle told cops that Chris had an “extensive history of drug use.”
Famed producer Jermaine Dupri discovered Chris aka “Mac Daddy” and fellow rapper Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith in an Atlanta mall. The duo -- known for wearing their pants backwards – shot to fame in 1992 with the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Jump,” from their debut album “Totally Krossed Out.”
They went on to tour with Michael Jackson on the “Dangerous World Tour” and released two more albums, “Da Bomb” and “Young, Rich & Dangerous.” They reunited earlier this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Dupri's label, So So Def.
In memory of the star, L.L. Cool J dedicated his new song “Jump On It” to Chris on Twitter, "R.I.P Chris Kelly. This song is now officially dedicated to you. May GOD embrace your soul & lift up your family."