Chris Kelly, of 90s rap super-duo “Kris Kross,” was admitted to an Atlanta hospital Wednesday afternoon after appearing to be unresponsive at his home and was later pronounced dead around 5pm. He was 34 years old.
Kelly, who together with rap partner Chris Simth, achieved mega success after their infectious single “Jump” spent eight weeks at the top of the Billboard chart back in 1992. After being spotted in an Atlanta shopping mall by famed record producer Jermaine Dupri back in 1991 they shot to stardom overnight and went on to tour with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous Tour that same year.
The pair of teenagers, first signed at the age of 13, became unlikely fashion icons who were known for wearing their clothes backwards as much as they were for their music, a trend that was widely emulated and inspired many a Kris Kross wannabe. Having not performed together for quite some time, the duo had reunited just back in February for a 20th anniversary concert for Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def records.
The cause of Kelly’s death is unknown at this time according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, with an autopsy being scheduled for Thursday.