Jermaine Dupri Thinks Kris Kross Deserves Credit For Jersey-Wearing Rappers

BY Erika Marie 3.4K Views
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Kris Kross
It's a common fashion trend in Hip Hop, but Dupri stated that "all of that came from Kris Kross."

There are Hip Hop and R&B fans who long for the musical stylings that permeated in the 1990s, and the influence of the era is still felt today. It wasn't just sounds coming from the genres that influenced worldwide mainstream cultures; streetwear took over the fashion world as rappers were creating new styles emulated across the globe.

As he chatted with Complex for their series The Blueprint, Jermaine Dupri spoke about a trend that he believes should be credited to him and his hitmaking, iconic duo, Kris Kross.

Al Pereira / Contributor / Getty Images

Kris Kross, which consisted of friends Chris Kelly and Chris Smith, dominated decades ago as rapping kids who wore their clothes backward. They were known for wearing oversized sports jerseys with their flipped ensembles, and Dupri believes they were the catalyst of making the trend fashionable in the Rap game.

“You can’t think of nobody else in hip-hop in ’92 that was wearing baseball jerseys. So, that means that after 1992, wearing baseball jerseys, football jerseys, basketball jerseys, all of that came from me and Kris Kross,” said the hitmaking producer. “But the industry that we in, they don’t actually frame it up like that. We don’t get the credit that we supposed to."

"That’s kind of what André 3000 was saying at the Source Awards, when he said, ‘The South got something to say.’ He felt that same energy that night. I’ve been feeling that same energy my whole life.” Also in the interview, Dupri speaks about being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and details working with Da Brat, mentioning that he did not necessarily want to take on a woman rapper at the time.

Watch the clip below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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