Kris Kross

Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ 32 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Atlanta based tag-team Kriss Kross released their ridiculously successful debut album, Totally Krossed Out.

The album was the follow up to the mega-hit single Jump released in February of the same year. Largely written and produced by Jermaine Dupri, it took two years to produce the album after the musical concept for the group was conceptualized.

Totally Krossed Out was as successful as anyone could ask their debut album to be. The album claimed the #1 spot on both the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and sold over four million copies in the year of its release. Two of the four singles released from the album, “Jump” and “Warm It Up” were both #1 Hot Rap Singles.

“Jump” is one of the biggest singles of its era. It claimed the #1 spot on the Eurochart Hot 100 as well as the top music charts in Australia, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It was a Top 10 hit all over Europe. The single went double platinum in the United States and Silver in France (125,000 copies sold) all in 1992.

At the time of this release, Kris Kross members Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac were only 12 and 13 years old. Jump was the fasting selling single in fifteen years and the two rose instantly to be among the ranks of child stars in the entertainment industry.

The critical reception for the album was much better than one would expect for a rap album by two children. Publications praised Jermaine Dupri for his creation and Kriss Kross for their iconic swagger and style. They received high ratings from a plethora of magazines and media outlets with little negative feedback.  The success of this album landed the duo a spot opening on Michael Jackson’s 1992 European Dangerous World Tour and a cameo in Michael Jackson’s “Jam” music video.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ 32 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ 32 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Kris Kross: Where Are They Now?

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Kris Kross was an iconic ’90s rap duo whose style and sound influenced the culture for years. The pair, Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith, remained active from 1991 until 1996. They also held a 20th anniversary reunion tour in 2013, bringing in droves of classic hip hop fans to catch the former child stars performing.

First discovered by So So Def label head Jermaine Dupri, Kris Kross was the youngest rap duo to find mainstream success, with platinum and gold records at ages 12 and 13. Their double-platinum hit single “Jump” ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, and each of their three albums, Totally Krossed Out, Da Bomb, and Young, Rich & Dangerous, topped the charts.

The duo is often characterized by their signature look, wearing their clothes backward. Despite their fame and popularity, the pair no longer seem to be an ever-present force in culture like some of their ’90s peers, leaving many fans to wonder what the duo is up to today.

Chris Kelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK–FEBRUARY 24: Rap group Kris Kross (aka Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith) appears in a portrait taken on February 24, 1992 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)

Tragically, Chris Kelly passed away in 2013 at the age of 34. The rapper had a long and documented struggle with drug abuse, which he was actively attempting to detox days before his death. According to a toxicology report for the former child star, there was a mixture of substances, including heroin and cocaine, in his system when he passed away. Just one day before he died, Kelly filmed a video of himself rapping, signaling a clear and ever-present love for the art form that changed his life. The tragic passing occurred just two months after the pair reunited for their 20th-anniversary tour.

Kris Kross fans were obviously heartbroken at the loss, along with the hip hop community at large. Jermaine Dupri released an open letter to his fans via Twitter following Kelly’s death, praising the artist as the son he never had. Likewise, Chris Smith shared a tearful statement to the press: “Chris Kelly was my Best Friend. He was like a brother. I love him and will miss him dearly. Our friendship began as little boys in first grade. We grew up together. It was a blessing to achieve the success, travel the world and entertain Kris Kross fans all around the world with my best friend.”

Chris Smith

As the sole surviving member of the duo, Chris Smith has led several new and exciting projects. The Kris Kross star owns his own lifestyle brand called Urbane Muse. On the official Urbane Muse site, the rapper designs and sells clothing items, accessories, and other high-end products. The 44-year-old entrepreneur is also active on Instagram, sharing life updates, throwback photos, and links to new and upcoming projects.

Smith has spoken about branching into solo music endeavors since 2014. This finally became a reality in November of 2023 when the rapper released his first solo album, SMITH Vol. 1. The project consists of 7 original tracks and is available to purchase as a physical CD or to stream on Apple Music. Despite the tragic loss of his Kris Kross collaborator, Smith seems prepared to continue producing art in the face of adversity.

[Via]

The post Kris Kross: Where Are They Now? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ 31 Years Ago

by
tumblr 1ca660568155b427135157093b437bf4 214c93e7 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history, Atlanta based tag-team Kriss Kross released their ridiculously successful debut album, Totally Krossed Out.

The album was the follow up to the mega-hit single Jump released in February of the same year. Largely written and produced by Jermaine Dupri, it took two years to produce the album after the musical concept for the group was conceptualized.

Totally Krossed Out was as successful as anyone could ask their debut album to be. The album claimed the #1 spot on both the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and sold over four million copies in the year of its release. Two of the four singles released from the album, “Jump” and “Warm It Up” were both #1 Hot Rap Singles.

“Jump” is one of the biggest singles of its era. It claimed the #1 spot on the Eurochart Hot 100 as well as the top music charts in Australia, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It was a Top 10 hit all over Europe. The single went double platinum in the United States and Silver in France (125,000 copies sold) all in 1992.

At the time of this release, Kris Kross members Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac were only 12 and 13 years old. Jump was the fasting selling single in fifteen years and the two rose instantly to be among the ranks of child stars in the entertainment industry.

The critical reception for the album was much better than one would expect for a rap album by two children. Publications praised Jermaine Dupri for his creation and Kriss Kross for their iconic swagger and style. They received high ratings from a plethora of magazines and media outlets with little negative feedback.  The success of this album landed the duo a spot opening on Michael Jackson’s 1992 European Dangerous World Tour and a cameo in Michael Jackson’s “Jam” music video.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross’ Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ Turns 30 Years Old!

by
tumblr 1ca660568155b427135157093b437bf4 214c93e7 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history, Atlanta based tag-team Kriss Kross released their ridiculously successful debut album, Totally Krossed Out.

The album was the follow up to the mega-hit single Jump released in February of the same year. Largely written and produced by Jermaine Dupri, it took two years to produce the album after the musical concept for the group was conceptualized.

Totally Krossed Out was as successful as anyone could ask their debut album to be. The album claimed the #1 spot on both the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and sold over four million copies in the year of its release. Two of the four singles released from the album, “Jump” and “Warm It Up” were both #1 Hot Rap Singles.

“Jump” is one of the biggest singles of its era. It claimed the #1 spot on the Eurochart Hot 100 as well as the top music charts in Australia, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It was a Top 10 hit all over Europe. The single went double platinum in the United States and Silver in France (125,000 copies sold) all in 1992.

At the time of this release, Kris Kross members Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac were only 12 and 13 years old. Jump was the fasting selling single in fifteen years and the two rose instantly to be among the ranks of child stars in the entertainment industry.

The critical reception for the album was much better than one would expect for a rap album by two children. Publications praised Jermaine Dupri for his creation and Kriss Kross for their iconic swagger and style. They received high ratings from a plethora of magazines and media outlets with little negative feedback.  The success of this album landed the duo a spot opening on Michael Jackson’s 1992 European Dangerous World Tour and a cameo in Michael Jackson’s “Jam” music video.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Kris Kross’ Debut Album ‘Totally Krossed Out’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.