Kris Kross
Encyclopedia
Kris Kross was an American
rap
duo
of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992
song "Jump
", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their unique fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards.
at an Atlanta shopping mall.
Their Dupri-produced debut album
, Totally Krossed Out
, was released in 1992 and sold four million copies in the U.S. It included the hit single "Jump
", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks.
The duo landed a spot on Michael Jackson
's 1992 Dangerous World Tour
, as well as a cameo appearance on Jackson's "Jam" music video. The music videos from their own album also experienced major success. The video for "Jump", directed by filmmaker Rich Murray went to No. 1 on MTV and sold over 100,000 copies as a vhs 'video single' and the video for their followup single "Warm It Up", also directed by Murray won a Billboard video award for "Best New Artist". In addition to this, they also made appearances in the music video
s for Run-D.M.C.
's "Down with the King
" and TLC
's "Hat 2 Da Back
". They were also featured in an episode of A Different World, and the closing musical act on May 29, 1992 episode of In Living Color
.
In 1992, a video game directed by Denis Dyack
was released starring the pair titled Kris Kross: Make My Video. It was released on the Sega CD system, and consisted of the player editing together the group's music videos to a few of their hit songs—using portions of the original music videos, stock footage, and general video animation effects. Players were prompted before each edit session to make sure to have certain footage compiled into the video. The game was released only in the United States
to poor sales figures and dismal reviews. It was ranked 18th on Electronic Gaming Monthly
s list of the "20 Worst Games of All Time".
Kris Kross made a cameo
appearance in Ted Demme
's 1993 film Who's the Man?
, which starred Ed Lover
and Doctor Dré
of Yo! MTV Raps
fame.
Their second album, Da Bomb
(1993), was certified platinum, and spawned the hit "Alright", although it failed to match their earlier success. Most of their songs had been directed at rivals Da Youngstas, Illegal
and Another Bad Creation
. A third album, Young, Rich & Dangerous
, was released in early 1996 and was certified gold. It spawned the two hits "Tonite's tha Night
" and "Live and Die for Hip Hop
".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rap
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
song "Jump
Jump (Kris Kross song)
"Jump" is a 1992 song by the hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was released as a single in early 1992 from their album Totally Krossed Out. It achieved great success in many countries where it topped the charts, including Australia, Switzerland and the U.S....
", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their unique fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards.
Career
Atlanta natives Kelly (born August 11, 1978) and Smith (born January 10, 1979) were childhood friends, discovered in 1990 by 18-year-old Jermaine DupriJermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
at an Atlanta shopping mall.
Their Dupri-produced debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Totally Krossed Out
Totally Krossed Out
Totally Krossed Out is the debut album by rap duo, Kris Kross. The album was released on March 31, 1992 for Ruffhouse Records and was produced by Jermaine Dupri...
, was released in 1992 and sold four million copies in the U.S. It included the hit single "Jump
Jump (Kris Kross song)
"Jump" is a 1992 song by the hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was released as a single in early 1992 from their album Totally Krossed Out. It achieved great success in many countries where it topped the charts, including Australia, Switzerland and the U.S....
", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks.
The duo landed a spot on Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's 1992 Dangerous World Tour
Dangerous World Tour
The Dangerous World Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson. The tour, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, included 69 performances to an audience of 3.5 million. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation". The...
, as well as a cameo appearance on Jackson's "Jam" music video. The music videos from their own album also experienced major success. The video for "Jump", directed by filmmaker Rich Murray went to No. 1 on MTV and sold over 100,000 copies as a vhs 'video single' and the video for their followup single "Warm It Up", also directed by Murray won a Billboard video award for "Best New Artist". In addition to this, they also made appearances in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s for Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
's "Down with the King
Down with the King (song)
Down with the King was the second and final single from Run-D.M.C.'s sixth studio album Down with the King. It featured Pete Rock & CL Smooth with Pete Rock producing the song....
" and TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
's "Hat 2 Da Back
Hat 2 da Back
"Hat 2 Da Back" is TLC's fourth and final single from their debut album, Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. The song reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100, while reaching #14 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. The song is about the girls' fashion sense...
". They were also featured in an episode of A Different World, and the closing musical act on May 29, 1992 episode of In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
.
In 1992, a video game directed by Denis Dyack
Denis Dyack
Denis Dyack is the founder and president of Silicon Knights, a video game developer. He founded Silicon Knights in 1992 after publishing Cyber Empires in 1991. He has a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree from Brock University...
was released starring the pair titled Kris Kross: Make My Video. It was released on the Sega CD system, and consisted of the player editing together the group's music videos to a few of their hit songs—using portions of the original music videos, stock footage, and general video animation effects. Players were prompted before each edit session to make sure to have certain footage compiled into the video. The game was released only in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to poor sales figures and dismal reviews. It was ranked 18th on Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
s list of the "20 Worst Games of All Time".
Kris Kross made a cameo
Cameo
Cameo is a method of carving an object such as an engraved gem, item of jewellery or vessel made in this manner. It nearly always features a raised relief image; contrast with intaglio, which has a negative image...
appearance in Ted Demme
Ted Demme
Edward K. "Ted" Demme was an American film director and producer.- Early life and career :Born in New York City, Demme grew up in Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York and attended South Side Senior High School. He graduated from SUNY-Cortland in 1985. His media career likely began with a...
's 1993 film Who's the Man?
Who's the Man?
Who's the Man? is a 1993 comedy film, directed by Ted Demme. The film stars Yo! MTV Raps hosts Doctor Dré and Ed Lover as its two main protagonists., it features dozens of cameo appearances from some of the top rap/hip-hop acts of the time, including Busta Rhymes, Eric B., House of Pain, Ice-T,...
, which starred Ed Lover
Ed Lover
James Roberts , better known as Ed Lover, is an African-American rapper, actor, musician, radio personality, and former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
and Doctor Dré
Doctor Dre
André "Doctor Dré" Brown is an African American radio personality and former MTV VJ.-Career:Doctor Dré is best known for being the co-host of MTV's hip hop music specialty program Yo! MTV Raps with partner Ed Lover. The duo also starred in the 1993 film Who's the Man?...
of Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps was a two-hour American television music video program, which ran from August 1988 to August 1995 through its original Yo! MTV Raps name and later by Yo! . The program was the first hip hop music show on the network, based on the original MTV Europe show, aired one year earlier. The U.S...
fame.
Their second album, Da Bomb
Da Bomb (album)
Da Bomb was the second studio album from hip-hop duo Kris Kross, whose members hit puberty a year after its debut album Totally Krossed Out. They tried a hardcore/gangsta look to fit with the new style of hip-hop...
(1993), was certified platinum, and spawned the hit "Alright", although it failed to match their earlier success. Most of their songs had been directed at rivals Da Youngstas, Illegal
Illegal (group)
Illegal was a short-lived hip hop duo composed of Jamal Phillips and Malik Edwards that was signed to Rowdy Records...
and Another Bad Creation
Another Bad Creation
Another Bad Creation were an American R&B and rap musical group from Atlanta, Georgia.-History:ABC consists of Romell “RoRo” Chapman, Chris Sellers, David Shelton and brothers Demetrius and Marliss Pugh, as well as “unofficial” member Adrian “G.A.” Witcher...
. A third album, Young, Rich & Dangerous
Young, Rich & Dangerous
Young, Rich & Dangerous is the third and final studio album by hip hop duo Kris Kross. The album was released in 1996 for So So Def Recordings and was produced by Jermaine Dupri. The album spawned two hit singles "Tonite's tha Nite" and "Live and Die for Hip-Hop". "Live and Die for Hip-Hop"...
, was released in early 1996 and was certified gold. It spawned the two hits "Tonite's tha Night
Tonite's tha Night
"Tonite's tha Night" is the first single from rap duo Kris Kross' third and final album, Young, Rich & Dangerous. It featured background vocals from Trey Lorenz and had a remix that featured Redman. The single was certified gold on January 17, 1996....
" and "Live and Die for Hip Hop
Live and Die for Hip Hop
"Live and Die For Hip Hop" is the second and final single from rap duo Kris Kross' third album Young, Rich & Dangerous and ninth and final single by Kris Kross overall.-History:...
".
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||||
| 1992 | Totally Krossed Out Totally Krossed Out Totally Krossed Out is the debut album by rap duo, Kris Kross. The album was released on March 31, 1992 for Ruffhouse Records and was produced by Jermaine Dupri...
|
1 | 1 | 7 | 33 | 30 | 31 |
Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... : 3* Platinum Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : 4* Platinum |
|
| 1993 | Da Bomb Da Bomb (album) Da Bomb was the second studio album from hip-hop duo Kris Kross, whose members hit puberty a year after its debut album Totally Krossed Out. They tried a hardcore/gangsta look to fit with the new style of hip-hop... |
13 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
|
|
| 1996 | Young, Rich & Dangerous Young, Rich & Dangerous Young, Rich & Dangerous is the third and final studio album by hip hop duo Kris Kross. The album was released in 1996 for So So Def Recordings and was produced by Jermaine Dupri. The album spawned two hit singles "Tonite's tha Nite" and "Live and Die for Hip-Hop". "Live and Die for Hip-Hop"... |
15 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
|
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Remix albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Best of Kris Kross Remixed '92 '94 '96 Best of Kris Kross Remixed '92 '94 '96 Best Of Kris Kross Remixed '92 '94 '96 is a remix/compilation album by hip hop duo Kris Kross. The album featured remixes of every hit single from Kris Kross' albums Totally Krossed Out, Da Bomb and Young, Rich & Dangerous except "I Missed the Bus" and one unreleased track entitled "Raide." Guests...
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Gonna Make U Jump Gonna Make U Jump Gonna Make U Jump is a compilation album by hip hop duo Kris Kross and, thus far, the duo's last album. Although it is a compilation, this album only has four out of the ten singles released by the group...
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Rap Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
US R&B |
US Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||||
| 1992 | "Jump Jump (Kris Kross song) "Jump" is a 1992 song by the hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was released as a single in early 1992 from their album Totally Krossed Out. It achieved great success in many countries where it topped the charts, including Australia, Switzerland and the U.S.... " |
1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Totally Krossed Out |
| "Warm It Up Warm It Up "Warm It Up" was the second single released from Kris Kross' debut album, Totally Krossed Out. Produced and written by Jermaine Dupri, "Warm It Up" was released as the follow-up to the duo's multi-platinum chart topping hit, "Jump" on June 4, 1992... " |
13 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 21 | 34 | 16 |
|
||
| "I Missed the Bus I Missed the Bus "I Missed the Bus" was the third single released by Kris Kross from their album, Totally Krossed Out.-History:"I Missed the Bus" was the third single from Totally Krossed Out, following Jump and Warm It Up, both of which made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart... " |
63 | 17 | 29 | — | — | — | 57 | |||
| "It's a Shame It's a Shame "It's a Shame" may also refer to a 1970 single by American R & B band, The Spinners"It's a Shame" is the fourth and final single released by Kris Kross from their album, Totally Krossed Out.-History:... " |
— | 11 | 55 | — | — | — | 31 | |||
| 1993 | "Alright Alright (Kris Kross song) "Alright" was the first single released from Kris Kross' second album Da Bomb. The song was produced and written by Jermaine Dupri and featured reggae star, Super Cat on the chorus... " |
19 | 1 | 8 | 40 | — | — | 47 |
|
Da Bomb |
| "I'm Real I'm Real (Kris Kross song) "I'm Real" is the second single by rap duo, Kris Kross from their second album Da Bomb and is their sixth single overall.-History:I'm Real was the 2nd single released by the duo from Da Bomb after Alright... " |
84 | 8 | 45 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1994 | "Da Bomb Da Bomb (song) Da Bomb is the third and final single released by Kris Kross from their second album Da Bomb. It featured female rapper, Da Brat in what was her first appearance on a song. Da Bomb would prove to be the least successful single released from the album, not charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and... " (with Da Brat Da Brat Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:... ) |
— | 25 | 74 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Tonite's tha Night Tonite's tha Night "Tonite's tha Night" is the first single from rap duo Kris Kross' third and final album, Young, Rich & Dangerous. It featured background vocals from Trey Lorenz and had a remix that featured Redman. The single was certified gold on January 17, 1996.... " |
12 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
|
Young, Rich, & Dangerous |
| 1996 | "Live and Die for Hip Hop Live and Die for Hip Hop "Live and Die For Hip Hop" is the second and final single from rap duo Kris Kross' third album Young, Rich & Dangerous and ninth and final single by Kris Kross overall.-History:... " |
72 | 11 | 36 | — | — | — | — | "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |
External links
- One Life Entertainment Chris Smith's official website
- HipHop.sh The 411 on ATL's Kris Kross
- Kris Kross at Legacy Recordings
- Chris Kelly at BlackHistoryDaily.com