Chris Kelly dies at 34: Music icons eulogize the Kriss Kross rapper

"To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music"

Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly
(Image credit: Michael Benabib/Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Chris Kelly, the rapper best known as "Mac Daddy" and one half of the 90s rap duo Kriss Kross, whose "Jump" was one of the decade's most enduring hits, has died in Atlanta at age 34. Police are treating the death as a possible drug overdose. The news was confirmed in an official statement from So So Def Records, co-signed by Chris Kelly's mother, Donna Kelly Pratte:

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris — the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him. (via All Hip Hop)

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Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.