Breaking Down: Remembering Chris Kelly of Kris Kross

Editor’s note:  On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Chris Kelly, aka “Mac Daddy” from the iconic hip-hop duo Kris Kross, died in Atlanta, GA at the age of 34.  The SoulTrain.com family sends our deepest condolences and love to Kelly’s family, friends, and fans in this time of mourning.

We all accept bad news in our own unique ways, especially the loss of loved ones or people of notable celebrity status, cultural relevance and admiration. Learning of the passing of 34 year-old Chris Kelly, one half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo Kris Kross, I started to read what was being written about him by various sources. I skimmed through most the articles because of how similarly they summarized his career. Reluctantly, I turned my attention to the reader comments. Some posts honored him, others did not. Considering my own views, I began to wear my thoughts backwards, like to how he and partner Chris Smith popularly wore their clothing during their teens.

My memories of Kelly began to rewind, playing back in reverse chronological order. Those started with a crop of artists’ promotional pictures I received from recording label Disturbing Tha Peace in the early 2000s. Each photo was uniquely-effected, stylized with a brick wall background. Kelly was dressed in all black with a look of total seriousness. I was surprised to see him. It felt like running into an old friend I’d lost touch with.

My thoughts continued to backtrack. Next I remembered standing in a music store staring at the cover of what would be the final Kris Kross album, Young, Rich & Dangerous. I thought they looked ridiculous, with no desire to purchase. Their impression on me was not full length. This was followed by my recollection of getting the CD single for “Tonight’s tha Night,” the first offering from this same LP. The very idea of Kris Kross using one of Redman’s most popular lines as a hook was unfathomable. The reality was it worked well, and on it Kelly, aka Mac Daddy, shined.

The rest of their singles trailed: “Da Bomb,” “I’m Real,” “Alright,” “It’s A Shame,” “I Missed the Bus,” “Warm It Up,” and finally, “Jump”–their craze-launching smash hit debut. Permanently imbedded in my memory, the song never actually needs to be played again; in my subconscious I can still clearly hear Kelly reciting, “Some of them try to rhyme but they can’t rhyme like this.” It was here my backtracking ceased. I got stuck on those twelve words, at that moment realizing just how defining of Kelly they were.

“Some of them try…” Millions of young men and women enter recording situations every day with aspirations and dreams of widespread success. Hopefuls often start out young in age. In this digital era it is easier than ever to be discovered, and the percentage of those who are is still low. Kelly was discovered at 13-years-old, becoming one of the lucky finds to break through.

“To rhyme…” The sons and daughters of hip-hop’s Golden Era were taught to respect word use, they learned if you were going to become an MC you had to be creative, confident, and to build patterns skillfully and sensibly. Audiences should hear lyrics, not just listen to them. One can argue Kris Kross achieved widespread success for a number of marketing reasons; how well they were able to rhyme, though, should always find its way into the discussion. At the height of their commercial relevance a point of debate was which Chris was the better performer: Kelly or Smith. In a number of circles Kelly was the favorite.

“But they can’t rhyme…” Producer and music mogul Jermaine Dupri wrote all of Kris Kross’ lyrics. Regardless, the pair needed to deliver them on time with Dupri’s production. They had to convince listeners to believe what they were hearing from them. Kelly was the more aggressive of the two. He attacked verses. In videos he articulated with his facial expressions and body language. On the microphone he was like a mail carrier with years on the same route. You expected him to show up. He delivered.

“Like this…” Death has made Chris Kelly another example, a figure standing directly in front of millions of pointed fingers. He did it. He was able. If he can, Ican too. He used to be successful. He couldn’t make it as a solo act. Who cares about him anymore?

Kelly’s family and loved ones care, the same persons crying real tears while refraining, “Not like this!” They’re the ones most affected by his life. They’ll hear summary of his career described a number of ways by various sources because Kelly was one of the lucky finds to break through. They’ll hear millions of comments breaking down who they thought he was and what they thought he meant, which could be assumed is not a new experience. This likely has been happening since Kelly was 13-years-old! Only in this digital era, it is easier than ever.

Eventually I broke free of where I got stuck. Again in reverse, I spiraled back in memory before Kris Kross came on the scene. As I looked ahead I saw how much they were needed, and thus gained an even greater understanding of their impact. They made history; and trust me, I’ll never forget it. In those comments I read I saw Kelly described as “fake.” So what if Kelly didn’t write his own rhymes while working with Dupri?  He still recorded better music than countless others who made attempts then and now. Some of them try to rhyme, but they can’t.

R.I.P. Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly

–Mr. Joe Walker

Follow him on Twitter @mrjoewalker. Also visit MrJoeWalker.blogspot.com and Facebook.com/ByMrJoeWalker.