On this day in music history: April 25, 1992 - “Jump” by Kris Kross hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 weeks, also peaking at #2 on the R&B singles chart. Written and produced by Jermaine Dupri, it will be the debut release and biggest hit for the Atlanta, GA rap duo. In 1990, friends Chris Kelly and Chris Smith will be discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri at a shopping mall in their native Atlanta. Dupri will be at the mall with the rap duo Silk Tymes Leather who he is producing. The boys will come up and ask them for an autograph when the young producer asks if they are a group themselves. When they say they’re not, Dupri will be impressed enough with their natural charisma that believes that he can make them stars if he produces a record on them. He’ll keep in touch with them before beginning record them. Dupri’s father Michael Mauldin, an executive at Columbia Records will give the young duo their name, dubbing them Kris Kross after the look that Dupri has cultivated for them wearing their baggy clothes backwards. They’ll cut a demo that includes the track “Lil Boys In Da Hood”. The song will attract the attention of Ruffhouse Records founder Joe Nicolo, who will sign him to the Columbia Records distributed label. Released in early February, the single will initially languish for its first month in stores until it receives an unexpected boost after the duo performs the song on the March 29th episode of “In Living Color”. The single will enter the Hot 100 at #61 on April 4th and rocket to #1 just three weeks later. “Jump” will be certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, driving sales of their debut album “Totally Krossed Out” to 4x Platinum.
God I’m so old.
