Chris Kelly Death Fueled By Ego And Drugs? Kriss Kross Rapper Dead at Age 34
Chris Kelly's return to the spotlight as part of rap duo Kris Kross may have helped fuel a downward spiral that led to his death on Wednesday.
Sources close to the late rapper, who went by the stage name Mack Daddy, told TMZ that his ego got the best of him after a February comeback. The rap duo Kris Kross was one of the highlights of the So So Def 20th anniversary and the pair performed their classic song Jump at the event.
Kelly spent a decade battling drug addiction with the likes of heroin and cocaine, but kicked his habit prior to the February celebration. However, he recently began parting again with fellow rappers and using drugs.
He was found dead at the age of 34 on Wednesday.
According to an Atltana police report, Kelly's mother said her son on Tuesday night had been taking speedballs, which is coke and heroin mixed together.
Cpl. Kay Lester of the Fulton County police said Kelly was found unresponsive in his home and "it appears it may have been a possible drug overdose." CPR failed to revive him and Kelly was transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on Wednesday.
Kelly Pratte released a statement on Thursday with Kris Kross's former record label, So So Def. He was remembered as the life of the party.
"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 statement read. "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."
Kelly was only 13 when he and Chris Smith were discovered by producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri in 1990. By 1992 the duo released their first album, Totally Krossed Out. Jump became a No. 1 hit and Kris Kross went on to tour with Michael Jackson. Dupri called Kelly the son he never had in a statement following the rapper's death.
"As much as you may think I taught him, he taught me. God has blessed me to be in the presence of so many naturally talented people, and Chris was one," he said. "When I think about it, I spent more time with Chris and Chris than damn near anybody in my whole life, so you can imagine how bad this hurts."
