In the last 12 hours since Kris Kross member Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly’s death was reported, information is building concerning the former So So Def Records’ artist’s untimely death at the age of 34 years old. Last night, the label founded by Jermaine Dupri and Chris mother, Donna Kelly Pratte released a joint statement on Chris. It was published in the Hollywood Reporter:
“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.”
Additional reports by TMZ have alleged that Kelly died of a drug overdose, according to what his mother told first responders. The drugs believed to be involved are a “speed-ball,” a powerful and often lethal mixture of cocaine and heroin.
A formal autopsy is scheduled for this morning.
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(May 2)
UPDATE: Investigator Betty Honey of the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office in Atlanta, Georgia said yesterday (July 1) that a toxicology screening showed the 34-year-old Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly had a mixture of drugs in his system at his May 1 death. Fox News reported that the specific narcotics used were not known, but that the cause of death was ruled a drug overdose.
This information matches the reports from Kelly’s mother, at the time of his death.
