Kris Kross Rapper Kelly Dead in Likely OD

Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly, who soared to fame as a member of the 1990s teenage rap duo Kris Kross, has died at age 34 in an Atlanta hospital. He'd been found unresponsive at home yesterday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports; authorities are investigating a possible drug overdose. His mom told police Kelly was using "speedballs," a mixture of cocaine and heroin, the night before he died, according to the police report obtained by TMZ. She said she had taken him home, and that morning he felt nauseous and then passed out. Hours before his death, he discussed his extensive partying in a radio interview.

"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," said a statement from his record label and his mother. "His legacy will live on through his music." The editor-in-chief of the Global Grind hip-hop site offered this tribute, CNN reports: "I'm wearing my clothes to work backwards tomorrow." Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith hit No. 1 with their song, "Jump," after being discovered at a mall as 13-year-olds. (More Chris Kelly stories.)