Kris Kross: Where Is Chris ‘Daddy Mack’ Smith Now and What is His Net Worth?
Young performers Chris Smith and Chris Kelly formed the ‘90s rap duo, Kris Kross. Nearly three decades after their debut album, Smith has forged a new path as an artist. Here’s what the entertainer is up to today and a peek at how much net worth he has maintained.
Music mogul Jermaine Dupri discovered Kris Kross in Atlanta, Georgia
“Don’t try to compare us to another bad little fad…” is the very quotable first line of Kris Kross’ debut single, “Jump.” The lyrics were a virtual one-two punch to the hip-hop youngsters known as Another Bad Creation. And with that, Kris Kross made a bold entrance into the music industry.
“Jump” became a No. 1 track, garnering ample airplay for months, thanks to the musical genius of teenaged producing prodigy Jermaine Dupri. He sampled “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 to create “Jump,” which remained at the top of the charts for eight weeks, as noted by Spotify.
Dupri discovered Smith and Kelly at Atlanta, Georgia’s famous Greenbriar Mall, as detailed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In a brilliant move, he molded the 13-year old boys into the rap stars known as Daddy Mack and Mack Daddy of Kris Kross.
The duo quickly followed “Jump” with another crowd-pleaser, “Warm it Up,” which was also well-received by fans. The two songs helped drive Kris Kross’ freshman album, Totally Krossed Out, to quadruple platinum status. Kris Kross went on to record two more successful albums. They dropped Da Bomb in 1993 and delivered Young Rich and Dangerous in 1996.
Chris Smith continues to create art today
After their final album, Kris Kross performed periodically over the years until Kelly’s death in 2013. After his partner’s passing, Smith continued to channel his creative energy in various ways.
Smith founded and operates Urbane Muse, an Atlanta-based art and lifestyle brand. As it turns out, the former recording artist is also a gifted visual artist with a knack for sketching hauntingly realistic portraits, among other creations.
With a quick visit to his company’s website, fans can get a glimpse of this original art, short films, and journal. Plus, Smith has developed an Urbane Muse retail line of products, which includes women’s and men’s clothing, footwear, accessories, and curated art prints for purchase.
The artist continues to build his net worth
As an adolescent superstar, Smith and his bandmate, Kelly, made a lasting impact on pop culture. They captured audiences with their dynamic performances, popularized their trademark backward clothing style, and even appeared in movies and television shows at the height of their fame.
Now, Smith keeps a lower profile but still contributes to arts and entertainment through Urbane Muse. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smith has built a personal fortune of an estimated $200,000.
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