kris Kross
Two youths from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, who topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks with "Jump", a song anchored by the bassline to the Jackson Five's "I Want You Back". Chris "Mack Daddy" Kelly (b. 1 May 1978, USA) and Chris "Daddy Mack" Smith (b. 10 January 1979, USA) were both just 13 years old when they scored with "Jump", the fastest-selling single the US had seen for 15 years. In the process they instigated a batch of "kiddie rap" clones. They were discovered in 1991 by writer/producer Jermaine Dupri, himself only 19, when he was shopping for shoes in Atlanta. Influenced by the likes of Run DMC and Eric B And Rakim, their visual character was enhanced by their determination to wear all their clothes backwards. Strangely enough, considering their natural teen appeal, they were signed up to the genuinely hardcore New York label Ruffhouse, home of Tim Dog and others. The US chart-topper Totally Krossed Out sold over four million copies and spawned another US Top 20 hit, "Warm It Up". Both singles were also successful in the UK, reaching number 2 and number 16 respectively. The follow-up, Da Bomb, attempted to crossover to the hardcore audience with limited success. Despite charting with the smooth "Tonight's Tha Night" at the end of 1995, the duo's new recording Young, Ri¢h & Dangerou$ stalled. Their debut album's success and critical acclaim now seemed like a distant memory.
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Albums
- (1996) Young, Rich & Dangerous
- (1993) Da Bomb
- (1992) Totally Krossed Out
- (1992) The Best Of Kris Kross Remixed: '92, '94, '96
Top Tracks
- Jump
- I Missed The Bus
- Tonite'S Tha Night
- Alright
- Live And Die For Hip Hop
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