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Prakazrel Samuel Michel (born October 19, 1972), known professionally as Pras (), is an American rapper and record producer. He is best known as a member of the hip-hop group Fugees, which he formed with fellow New Jerseyans Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill in 1990.
As a solo act, he signed with Columbia Records in 1996 and earned two top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with his 1997 single "Avenues" (with Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Ky-Mani Marley) and his Grammy Award-nominated 1998 single, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa). The latter was released for the Warren Beatty film Bulworth (1998), while both preceded the release of his debut studio album, Ghetto Supastar (1998).
He also collaborated with Jean and rock band Queen on the 1998 remix of "Another One Bites the Dust", which reached the top five on the UK Singles Chart. In 2017, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series for his work as a producer on the web series The Bay.
In 2019, he began to face legal issues when he was charged with criminal conspiracy for alleged illegal donations to President Barack Obama's 2012 presidential re-election campaign and lobbying the Trump administration to deter investigations into the 1MDB scandal involving fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low. On April 26, 2023, Pras was found guilty of 10 criminal counts in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Pras has also forged a successful solo career, beginning with an international hit single from his first full-length solo LP, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)", featuring Mýa and Ol' Dirty Bastard. "Ghetto Superstar" became a top ten single in 1999, and the eighth most played single. The song earned Pras a performance at the World Music Awards. The hit single was included in the soundtrack for the film Bulworth. "Ghetto Supastar" spent eight weeks in the UK Top 5, peaking at No. 2 in July 1998, and reached US No. 15 a month later. "Blue Angels", from the same album, was a UK Top 10 hit, reaching No. 6 in November.
Pras also featured on the track "Turn You On" by Swedish artist DeDe which was released in 2007. "Turn You On" was also written and produced by Pras. After nine weeks on Sweden's single chart, it peaked at No. 2. He also featured "Pushin'" from the album Equalize by Swami, which was released in 2007.
The Fugees were scheduled to begin their international reunion tour originally in 2021 which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, a new tour was announced. However, three days before the first show, it was cancelled without an explanation. In October 2024, Pras sued fellow member Lauryn Hill for breach of contract and fraud, also in regard to the cancelled tour. Hill herself replied that the lawsuit "is full of false claims and unwarranted attacks. It notably omits that he was advanced overpayment for the last tour and has failed to repay substantial loans extended by myself as an act of good will."
In 2006, Pras created Skid Row, Los Angeles, a documentary account of his nine-day experience posing as a homeless person living in downtown Los Angeles. Using a hidden camera, Pras captured the reality of homelessness. The film was produced by Teryn Fogel. Skid Row was released on August 24, 2007.
In 2009, Pras traveled to Somalia to film the documentary Paper Dreams, which examines piracy off the African coast. During filming, pirates invaded the ship he was on, the MV Maersk Alabama, and took the captain of the ship hostage. Originally due to be released in 2014, the documentary remains unfinished due to a legal dispute.
In 2015, Pras completed a documentary, Sweet Micky For President, which chronicles the rise of Haitian musician Michel Martelly, through his election to fight corruption as President of Haiti, an election campaign that was strongly endorsed by Pras. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival.
In 2017, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series as a producer on the web series The Bay.
In June 2021, Michel was charged by a federal grand jury for running a back-channel campaign to get the Trump administration to drop an investigation of Jho Low and the 1MDB investment company.
He was also accused of advocating for the extradition of a Chinese dissident, Guo Wengui, from the United States. In the plea documents of former DOJ employee George Higginbotham, Michel was accused of paying Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy and others to have Guo extradited to China. Though unnamed in the filings, Michel is "easily identified" due to linked cases and confirmation from sources close to the case. Michel "vehemently and unequivocally" denied accusations related to Higginbotham's case.
, due to the charges against him, Michel cannot travel internationally. In January 2022, Fugees cancelled their planned international reunion tour, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 26, 2023, Michel was found guilty of 10 criminal counts in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He is facing up to 20 years in prison, but is currently free on bond pending appeals.
Discography
Albums
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.
EPs
+ List of extended plays with selected details
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Singles
As lead artist
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.
As featured artist
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.
Filmography
External links
Categories: 1972 Births, Living People, Rappers From New Jersey, Five Percenters, Grammy Award Winners, American Rappers Of Haitian Descent, Yale University Alumni, Fugees Members, Rappers From Brooklyn, Entertainers From Irvington, New Jersey, 21st-century American Rappers, Alternative Hip-hop Musicians, East Coast Hip-hop Musicians, Pop Rappers
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