The tragic passing of Chris Kelly, one half of the ’90s hip-hop duo Kris Kross, is bound to weigh on the hearts of his fans. Just a glance at the statement released by Kelly’s performing partner and friend Chris Smith, via E!, is enough to conjure up a steady flow of tears:
“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. It is what we wanted to do and what brought us happiness. I will always cherish the memories of the C-Connection.”
But what’s just as important as our sensitivity to the death of a beloved artist is our celebration of his life and work. The 1990s had legions of fans entertained by Kris Kross’ upbeat, wholesome, good-natured songs — cheerful hits about bus rides to school and heavier numbers about the dangers of crime and violence. The young duo’s career gave us a handful of memorable entries, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorites in honor of “Mac Daddy” Kelly and his work with friend and fellow artist, “Daddy Mac” Smith:
“Jump”
“I Missed the Bus”
“Warm It Up”
“Live and Die for Hip Hop”
“It’s a Shame”
Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiter
More:
Chris Kelly of Kris Kross Dead at 34
Former Child Star Deanna Durbin Dies at 91
5 Things You May Not Know About Annette Funicello
From Our Partners:
Beyonce Flaunts Bikini Bod for H&M (Celebuzz)
33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
