As @wicker9066 already said, it's almost definitely an issue with one of the cables running through the hinge. However, there are some things I think I should add.
First and foremost, replacing the upper lcd will NOT "most likely result in killing your DS". It is marked extremely difficult for a reason, and requires serious caution and patience, but it's entirely doable if you have both of those.
Second, that *pop* sound when it crashes points to a problem with your speaker cables (or sometimes display cables, but both screens work so that's not likely). Unplug that ribbon, clean both the connector and cable with isopropyl alcohol (90%+) and a toothbrush, and plug it back in.
If it doesn't work then, you'll have to take the top off to look for any damage and probably replace the speaker ribbon