Chris Kelly of 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, who was found dead last week at the age of 34, has been laid to rest in his home town of Atlanta, Georgia.
Chris Kelly was known as Mac Daddy while in Kris Kross, who shot to fame in 1992 with their hit single Jump.
Producer Jermaine Dupri and rapper Da Brat wore their trousers backwards in homage to the duo, who were known for wearing their clothes back to front.
Bandmate Chris Smith delivered an emotional tribute to his “true friend”.
Chris Kelly of 1990s rap duo Kris Kross has been laid to rest in his home town of Atlanta, Georgia
“It’s been a struggle for me every day, but there was a peace that came over me this morning because I know he’s in heaven,” Chris Smith said.
Chris Smith was supported in the church by Jermaine Dupri, who discovered the 1990s teenage duo in an Atlanta shopping centre.
Chris Kelly’s mother Donna Kelly Pratte continuously wept throughout the two hour service.
Numerous photos were shown of Chris Kelly posing with music stars including Michael Jackson, Gerald Levert and Patti LaBelle.
Kris Kross topped the US charts in May 1992 and reached number two in the UK with their single Jump. The song stayed at number one in the US for eight weeks, selling four million copies.
Chris Smith and Chris Kelly were reunited in February to perform at a show celebrating the 20th anniversary of their record label So So Def.
Chris Kelly’s official cause of death will not be known until a toxicology report has been completed.
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Chris Kelly’s mother told authorities in Atlanta her son became sick after taking cocaine and heroin on the night before he died, according to a police report.
Chris Kelly of the 90’s rap duo Kris Kross was found dead on Wednesday after a suspected drug overdose.
His mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, 54, and his uncle, Lamar Williams, 52, told authorities the singer had a history of drug abuse and experienced similar episodes in the past, according to a police report.
Paramedics found Chris Kelly, 34, unresponsive on a living room couch at his Atlanta home and tried to resuscitate him.
Chris Kelly of Kris Kross was found dead after a suspected drug overdose
Chris Kelly, who was known as “Mac Daddy”, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities completed a physical examination of the singer’s body and a toxicology screening was being done to determine cause of death, said Betty Honey of the Fulton County medical examiner’s office.
Kris Kross was introduced to the music world in 1992 by music producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri after he discovered the pair at Greenbriar Mall in south-west Atlanta.
Chris Kelly performed alongside Chris Smith, who was known as “Daddy Mac”.
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It appears Kris Kross’ Chris Kelly has died of a suspected drug overdose after being found unresponsive at his home, police have said.
Yesterday police were called to Chris Kelly’s home by the rapper’s cousin at around 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. After which he was taken to Atlanta Medical Centre.
Chris Kelly, 34, – half of Kris Kross rap duo famous for the hit song Jump – was pronounced dead at 5 p.m.
It appears Kris Kross’ Chris Kelly has died of a suspected drug overdose after being found unresponsive at his home
As yet there is no official confirmation of the cause of death but Cpl Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County police said: “It appears it may have been a possible drug overdose.”
An autopsy is due to be held on Thursday.
Chris Kelly, known as Mac Daddy, performed alongside Chris Smith, known as Daddy Mac, in the early and mid-90s.
The duo’s hit song Jump, from their 1992 debut album, Totally Krossed Out, helped propel them to stardom and sales of four million copies in the US, topping the Billboard charts for eight weeks.
