Kris Kross

Kris Kross burst onto the music scene in 1992 with a sound and style that defined early 90s teen hip hop. Discovered by Jermaine Dupri at an Atlanta mall, the duo of Chris Kelly and Chris Smith became the first act signed to Dupri's So So Def Recordings. Their debut single "Jump," built around a sample of The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and turned the 13-year-olds into international stars. The accompanying album Totally Krossed Out also hit number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over four million copies in the US alone.

The duo's signature look—wearing all their clothes backwards—became a global fashion trend, with fans everywhere turning their shirts and pants around to emulate their heroes. But Kris Kross was more than a novelty act. Their follow-up album Da Bomb (1993) showed growth with a darker, more mature sound and guest spots from A Tribe Called Quest and Da Brat. Their third and final album Young, Rich & Dangerous (1996) continued that evolution but failed to recapture the commercial heights of their debut.

After the duo effectively disbanded in the late 1990s, Chris Smith continued performing occasionally as Daddy Mac, while Chris Kelly struggled with personal issues. On May 1, 2013, Kelly died from a drug overdose at age 34. Smith has kept the legacy alive through tribute performances and social media, but Kris Kross as a performing entity ended with Kelly's passing.[edit]

In 1990, Jermaine Dupri was scouting talent at an Atlanta mall when he spotted two 11-year-old boys rapping and dancing for a crowd. Chris Kelly and Chris Smith, friends since elementary school, had been performing together for fun. Dupri was immediately struck by their chemistry and raw energy. He signed them as the first artists on his newly formed So So Def Recordings and began mentoring them.

Dupri wrote and produced their material, teaching them studio techniques and stage presence. The duo's name Kris Kross came from a play on the word "cross" and was originally spelled "Kriss Kross" before being simplified. Their backwards clothing style started as a joke—Dupri saw them wearing clothes inside out and backwards and decided to make it their trademark. It became one of the most recognizable fashion statements of the decade.[edit]

Kris Kross's music was built on bouncy, bass-heavy beats and catchy, call-and-response choruses. Dupri's production on their debut album Totally Krossed Out leaned heavily on samples from classic soul and funk, most notably The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" on "Jump." The duo traded playful, competitive verses that showcased their youthful energy and natural chemistry.

With Da Bomb in 1993, the sound darkened and grew more aggressive. The production incorporated harder drums and grittier samples, reflecting the East Coast hip hop influence of the era. Guest appearances from A Tribe Called Quest and Da Brat added credibility. Their final album Young, Rich & Dangerous (1996) moved toward a G-funk sound with polished R&B hooks, but by then the teen rap craze had waned.[edit]

Kris Kross's biggest cultural contribution was popularizing backwards clothing. The trend spread worldwide, with kids everywhere turning their clothes around to imitate the duo. It became a defining look of early 90s youth culture, referenced in countless TV shows and movies.

In the music industry, they proved that young rappers could achieve mainstream crossover success. Their debut single "Jump" was the first hip hop single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. They performed at President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration and served as youth ambassadors for anti-drug campaigns. Their success paved the way for later teen rap acts like Bow Wow and Lil Wayne's early career.[edit]

Kris Kross never had an official fandom name, lightstick, or fan color. But their fans were deeply dedicated, especially during the early 90s. The most visible expression of fandom was wearing clothes backwards—shirts, pants, hats, even shoes. Fans organized dance contests to "Jump" and created homemade tribute videos.

After Chris Kelly's death in 2013, fans rallied online with tribute hashtags and helped fund a memorial mural in Atlanta. The duo's social media pages remain active, with fans sharing memories and introducing the music to new generations.[edit]

Jermaine Dupri originally wrote "Jump" for another group but gave it to Kris Kross after deciding it fit their energy better. The duo appeared in the 1993 film Who's the Man? as themselves. In 1996, they recorded a song for the Space Jam soundtrack titled "I Believe I Can Fly" but it was not used; R. Kelly recorded the hit instead. Chris Kelly and Chris Smith were not related—they met in elementary school.[edit]