Former Kris Kross rapper Chris Kelly had taken a mixture of cocaine and heroin the night before his death and had a history of drug abuse, according to a police report released Thursday.
Kelly, 34, was unresponsive on his couch and had no signs of life when paramedics arrived at his southwest Atlanta home Wednesday afternoon, according to the report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Paramedics administered CPR, but Kelly was pronounced dead after being transported to Atlanta Medical Center.
Kelly felt nauseous during the day Wednesday before he passed out on the couch, prompting his mother to call 911.
“She stated she had brought Kelly home to recover from his drug use and had done this several times in the past,” the report states.
Kelly’s mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, and an uncle, Lamar Williams, both told police the former teen star had an extensive history of drug abuse.
An autopsy conducted Thursday morning at the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office found no signs of trauma or foul play, a spokesman for the office said. Toxicology results will not be known for at least three weeks.
Condolences poured in Thursday for Kelly, one half of the 90s duo known for wearing their clothes backward and their smash single “Jump.” Kelly and Chris Smith were discovered by then-18-year-old Jermaine Dupri at Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall in 1991. Kris Kross performed in February at a 20-year reunion concert for Dupri’s So So Def record label.
Dupri released a statement via Twitter, calling Kelly the son he never had.
“God has blessed me to be in the presence of so many naturally talented people, and Chris was one,” Dupri wrote. “I will always love you Chris, and I will never let the world forget you.”
In a statement released early Thursday, Kelly’s mother and the So So Def Family said the singer’s legacy will live on through his music. The statement read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris – the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him.”
Though the catchy “Jump” was the most famous song for Kris Kross, the pair also recorded the “Rugrats Rap” for Nickelodeon. “Jump” was a track on the group’s debut album, “Totally Krossed Out.” Two other singles, “Warm it up” and “I missed the bus,” were also hits from the album.
Kris Kross released two more albums, but neither was as popular as the first.
Funeral arrangements for Kelly have not yet been announced.
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