In a recent conversation on the New Rory & Mal podcast, Atlanta legend Jermaine Dupri spoke about some of his career highlights, from making his first records to his discovery of Bow Wow and working with him throughout his career. But before Bow Wow, JD founded a duo of backwards jersey-wearing Atlanta tweens who would take over the world with their first album Totally Krossed Out. Those kids were Kris Kross. 

In the episode, JD explains meeting Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith in an Atlanta mall when they were just 12 years old. Amazed by the attention they got from girls at the mall, JD knew the two were natural stars. 

“If you would have saw this you would have been buggin’,” Dupri explained. “If you seen two little boys, and you never seen them nowhere, [the girls] were like screaming. I’m like what’s goin’ on?” 

“If I write a song that they like, this shit might work,” Dupri explained. As Dupri started to develop the duos sound and style, the young producer ended up being introduced to TLC’s own, Left Eye. As JD was developing Kris Kross Left Eye suggested the duo dress in their iconic backward jeans and jersey looks. 

“Left Eye she was down, she was at the house, she was actually really like, instrumental in helping me figure out the backwards jeans and getting the clothing right. because we used to try crazy shit all the time and be around each other,” JD explained. “She was not apart of what was going on with Kris Kross but she was a part of the support team.” 

Shortly after, Jermaine Dupri would start working with Left Eye and T-Boz on demos before officially forming TLC. 

Watch the entire interview with Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow on the New Rory & Mal podcast.