Features
- Created on 02 May 2013
So So Def and Family Release Statement on Death of Chris Kelly of Kris Kross
The family of Chris Kelly released this statement about his death. Kelly was one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross and he died Wednesday.
The statement reads:
"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. -- Donna Kelly Pratte (mother) & The So So Def Family"
Chris Kelly, one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died Wednesday at an Atlanta hospital after he was found unresponsive at his home. He was 34.
How Kelly died isn't known, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said an autopsy is planned for Thursday.
Kelly, together with Chris Smith, shot to stardom in 1992 with "Jump," which spent eight weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100.
The duo opened for Michael Jackson that year on his Dangerous World Tour.
And their penchant for wearing their clothes backward was, at least for a time, widely emulated.
"I'm wearing my clothes to work backwards tomorrow," Michael Skolnik, editor in chief of the hip hop site Global Grind said, when he learned of the death.
Leslie Tookes, a CNN project coordinator, lived next door to Kelly. Like others, she too was saddened by his untimely death.
"We often heard him playing classical music and the piano," Tookes said. "He was a low-key type of person who was very talented and courteous, friendly and wonderful to our 5-year-old twins.
"Indeed, gone too soon."
His family also mentioned the notable wardrobe adjustment in a statement mourning Kelly's passing.
"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," Kelly's family said in a statement.
Discovered at a mall
Kelly and Smith were 13-year-olds when they were discovered in 1991 at an Atlanta mall by producer Jermaine Dupri.
Going by the stage name Mac Daddy (with Smith known as Daddy Mac), the pair followed up their smash "Jump" with the single "Warm It Up."
Together, the songs pushed their debut album, "Totally Krossed Out," to multiplatinum status.
Next came 1993's "Da Bomb."
But the album failed to find the following of the duo's debut, in large part because the boys had hit puberty and they were marketed with a tougher image.
Their career never again reached the heights of their debut, but they continued to make music.
In 1996, the duo released the album "Young, Rich and Dangerous."
The pair reunited for one night in February for a 20th anniversary party for Dupri's So So Def label.
Rapper Da Brat, who also performed that night, wrote about Kelly's death, "REST IN PEACE TO MY LIL BRO CHRIS KELLY OF KRIS KROSS. Dam wasn't we JUST at rehearsal and doin a So So Def20 show?"
CNN's Ed Payne, Chelsea Carter and Tresha Lindo contributed to this report.
- Created on 02 May 2013
Chris Kelly, of Legendary '90s Rap Duo Kris Kross, Found Dead in Atlanta at 34
(CNN) -- Chris Kelly, one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died Wednesday at an Atlanta hospital after he was found unresponsive at his home. He was 34.
How Kelly died isn't known, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said an autopsy is planned for Thursday.
Kelly, together with Chris Smith, shot to stardom in 1992 with "Jump," which spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
Going by the stage name Mac Daddy (with Smith known as Daddy Mac), the pair was known for wearing their clothes backward during performances.
Rapper Da Brat was shocked by Kelly's death. She had performed at a 20th anniversary party for producer Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label in February where Kris Kross reunited for one night.
"REST IN PEACE TO MY LIL BRO CHRIS KELLY OF KRIS KROSS. Dam wasn't we JUST at rehearsal and doin a So So Def20 show?," she wrote.
Michael Skolnik, editor in chief of the hip hop site Global Grind said: "i'm wearing my clothes to work backwards tomorrow."
Kelly and Smith were 13-year-olds when they were discovered in 1991 at an Atlanta mall by Jermaine Dupri.
The duo followed up their smash "Jump" with the single "Warm It Up." Together, the songs pushed their debut album, "Totally Krossed Out," to multiplatinum status.
Next came 1993's "Da Bomb." But the album failed to find the following of the duo's debut, in large part because the boys had hit puberty and they were marketed with a tougher image.
Their career never again reached the heights of their debut, but they continued to make music.
In 1996, the duo released the album "Young, Rich and Dangerous."
CNN's Chelsea Carter and Tresha Lindo contributed to this report.
- Created on 30 April 2013
Jermaine Jackson Headed To Jail For Child Support?
Jermaine Jackson, the third oldest sibling of the famed R&B Jackson dynasty, is reportedly headed back to court on child support neglect charges for being $30,000 in arrears for two of his teenage children with former spouse Alejandra (pictured), according to TMZ.
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- Created on 01 May 2013
Better Business Bureau: The Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads
Summer is just around the corner and so are the endless advertisements for weight loss. Common sense will tell you that cutting down on your caloric intake and exercising are your best bets for shedding those extra pounds. But just in case, The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides some helpful information and tips on what to be aware of when looking for ways to lose weight.
Claims to watch out for include: Lose weight without diet or exercise! -- Getting to a healthy weight takes work. Take a pass on any product that promises miraculous results without the effort. The only thing lost will be money.
Lose weight no matter how much you eat of your favorite foods! -- Beware of any product that claims that you can eat all the high-calorie food you want and still lose weight. Losing weight requires sensible food choices. Filling up on healthy vegetables and fruits can make it easier to say no to fattening sweets and snacks.
Lose weight permanently! Never diet again! -- Permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes. Don't trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results without ongoing maintenance.
Just take a pill! -- Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that there's simply no magic way to lose weight without diet or exercise. Even pills approved by FDA to block the absorption of fat or help you eat less and feel full are to be taken with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise.
Lose 30 pounds in 30 days! Losing weight at the rate of a pound or two a week is the most effective way to take it off and keep it off. At best, products promising lightning-fast weight loss are a scam. At worst, they can ruin your health.
Everybody will lose weight! -- Your habits and health concerns are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all product guaranteed to work for everyone. Team up with your health care provider to design a nutrition and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.
Lose weight with our miracle diet patch or cream! -- You've seen the ads for diet patches or creams that claim to melt away the pounds. Don't believe them. There's nothing you can wear or apply to your skin that will cause you to lose weight.
Acai Berry Supplements in the "News" -- More and more, scam artists are exploiting people's trust in well-known news organizations by setting up fake news sites with the logos of legitimate news organizations to peddle their wares. In particular, sites claiming to be objective news sources may describe a so-called "investigation" of the effectiveness of acai berry dietary supplements for weight loss. These sites are a marketing ploy created to sell acai berry supplements.
Tainted Weight Loss Products -- In the last few years, FDA has discovered hundreds of dietary supplements containing drugs or other chemicals, often in products for weight loss and bodybuilding. These extras generally aren't listed on the label — and might even be sold with false and misleading claims like "100% natural" and "safe." They could cause serious side effects or interact in dangerous ways with medicines or other supplements you're taking.
Electronic Muscle Stimulators -- You might have seen ads for electronic muscle stimulators claiming they will tone, firm, and strengthen abdominal muscles, help you lose weight, or get rock hard abs. But according to the FDA, while these devices may temporarily strengthen, tone, or firm a muscle, no electronic muscle stimulator device alone will give you "six-pack" abs. Always check with your doctor before starting any weight loss plan. And be sure to check out any company with the BBB at www.bbb.org before you do business.
- Created on 29 April 2013
Teens Take Over Woodruff Art Center for ‘Voices and Vibes’
Donovan Dodds and Darren Mann have been artists since they were little. Donovan became an actor when he was 5 and Darren started drawing seriously at 3.
Now they are in high school and into something big – a first-of-its-kind drive to get Atlanta teens actively and deeply engaged in the wide world of the arts.
It's the Wells Fargo ArtsVibe Teen Program at the Woodruff Arts Center. It's by teens and for teens, and it's the first time the four divisions of the Woodruff – the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Alliance Theatre and Young Audiences – have worked together on an initiative.
The idea is to get 15,000 teens from all parts of Atlanta involved in the full spectrum of the arts. Wells Fargo made a $2 million donation to the Woodruff to support the program for five years.
"ArtsVibe is a way to dive deep into what I love and meet people who share the same passions – and to be inspired," said Darren, a 17-year-old at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton. Darren now creates abstract paintings in acrylic on canvas with shapes and symbols that are "designed to make people think."
He lists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as major influences. And he never thought about becoming involved with the Woodruff Arts Center until ArtsVibe. Now he, along with Donovan, are on the ArtsVibe Teen Council. ArtsVibe will have its coming-out party on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, with a two-day teen takeover of the Woodruff called Voices and Vibes.
On Friday the best teen talent in Atlanta will take the stage at Symphony Hall and compete for the top prize, American Idol-style. Saturday afternoon will be a "teen hangout" day with live music, dancing, drum circles, workshops and more. It's all free, and as many as 3,000 teens are expected at the Woodruff.
Free tickets for Friday evening's event are at www.artsvibe.com. On Saturday, no advance tickets are required.
"I'm really excited about Voices & Vibes," said Donovan, a 16-year-old at the Galloway School. "It's a cool way to get teens to the Woodruff for a two-day party and introduce them to ArtsVibe. And I love ArtsVibe because it gives teens a comfortable space to create and share their art."
Said Mike Donnelly, Atlanta region president for Wells Fargo, "You hear so much the need for constructive activities for teens. This is the ticket — and it's all free. This combines three things that are important to us – kids, education and the arts – and it will help our young people be successful in life."
(Photo: Darren Mann)
