Pras

Early life

Michel was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and raised in Irvington, New Jersey. He is Haitian-American. Pras cultivated an early interest in music. When he was 15, he met Lauryn Hill while both attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey. In 1988, Pras introduced Hill to Wyclef Jean. Pras, Jean, and Hill began to rehearse under the guidance of Kool and the Gang's producer, Ronald Khalis Bell, and subsequently they formed a musical group called The Rap Translators in 1989 (also known as Tranzlator Crew).

Career

Music

From 1992 to 1993, The Fugees recorded their first album Blunted on Reality, under the supervision of Ronald Khalis Bell. Before and during this, Pras attended Rutgers University and Yale University, pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Psychology. In 1996, The Fugees achieved historic crossover success with The Score, which went multi-platinum.

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."

Film

After making a cameo in the 1999 feature film Mystery Men, Pras became interested in Hollywood. In 2000, Pras starred in the New Line film, Turn It Up. In early 2002, he appeared in the Sony and Urban World release Higher Ed. and Go for Broke in which he starred and produced. He also co-starred in three 20th Century Fox films in 2007. These included The Mutant Chronicles.

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.

Political activism

In 2013, Michel became a "top initial donor" to Organizing for Action, a political advocacy group formed by Obama associates in January 2013. Illegally funneling tens of millions of dollars in donations to the Obama administration, Pras was sentenced to 14 years in the American federal prison system.

Legal issues

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Michel on May 10, 2019, for his part in an alleged criminal conspiracy with Malaysian financier Jho Low. The DOJ alleged that between June 2012 and November 2012, Michel aided in the illegal transfer of approximately $865,000 from foreign entities into the Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign. The DOJ alleged that these funds were disguised as purportedly legitimate contributions, but were stolen from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Ultimately, the DOJ alleged that $21 million in foreign campaign contributions were funneled into the 2012 US presidential election to benefit "Candidate A". The Washington Post and The New York Times identified "Candidate A" as Barack Obama.

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 making payments 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.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Filmography

• Mystery Men (1999) – Tony C (credited as Prakazrel Michel)
• Turn It Up (2000) – Denzel/Diamond (credited as Pras Michel) (co-producer)
• Da Hip Hop Witch (2000) - Himself
• Higher Ed (2001) – Ed Green (credited as Pras Michel) (executive producer)
• Go for Broke (2002) – Jackson/Jackie (credited as Pras Michel) (producer)
• Nora's Hair Salon (2004)
• Careful What You Wish For (2004) – Zen Salesman (credited as Pras Michel)
• Feel the Noise (2007) – Electric
• First Night (2007) – himself (producer)
• Skid Row (2007) – himself (producer)
• Mutant Chronicles (2007) – Captain Michaels (producer)
• Paper Dreams (2010) – himself (producer)
• Sweet Mickey for President (2015) – himself (producer)

References

References

1. "'Pras' Michel trial sees former rapper in court for vast 'influence scheme'".
2. Whitehurst, Lindsay. (April 26, 2023). "Fugees rapper Pras found guilty of political conspiracy". [[Associated Press News]].
3. Kunzelman, Michael. (2025-11-20). "Fugees rapper Pras Michel sentenced to 14 years in prison over illegal donations to Obama campaign".
4. "Report: Fugees member Pras' criminal conspiracy trial date moved".
5. Rahul. (May 17, 2012). "Pras Talks 2Pac, Suge Knight, Wyclef, Lauryn Hill & Beef on the Champs Podcast".
6. Roberts, David. (2006). "[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]". Guinness World Records Limited.
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8. William, Chris. (August 6, 2024). "Lauryn Hill and the Fugees' 2024 Tour Is Quietly Canceled, Three Days Before First Date". variety.com.
9. Lee, Benjamin. (October 1, 2024). "Lauryn Hill sued by Fugees co-member Pras Michél over failed tour".
10. Sisario, Ben. (October 1, 2024). "Pras Sues Lauryn Hill Over Canceled Fugees Tour, Alleging Fraud". [[The New York Times]].
11. (August 24, 2007). "Skid Row". [[Internet Movie Database]].
12. (March 25, 2008). "Skid Row".
13. (December 2, 2012). "TMZ Pras Michel Lawsuit".
14. "Documentary: 'Sweet Micky for President'".
15. (2023-03-12). "The Bay The Series - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BAY! The Bay The Series Daytime Emmy Award Winner "Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series" #DaytimeEmmys #bingethebay Gregori J. Martin Kristos Andrews Wendy Riche Anthony Aquilino #MichaelWFerroJr Carol Hedgepeth Nadine Aronson Jared Safier Matthew Ashford Devin Devasquez #MaryBethEvans Celeste Fianna Nanxi Liu Kira Reed Lorsch Pras Michel Ronn Moss Eric Nelsen Sainty Nelsen Karrueche Tran Meadow Williams Chrystal Ayers {{!}} Facebook".
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18. "Obama Group Donors Include Hip-Hop Artist 'Pras,' Sinatra". [[Bloomberg News]].
19. (May 10, 2019). "Entertainer/Businessman and Malaysian Financier Indicted for Conspiring to Make and Conceal Foreign and Conduit Contributions During 2012 U.S. Presidential Election". [[United States Department of Justice]].
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21. Chandler, D. L.. (May 13, 2019). "Ex-Fugees Star Pras Michel Caught in the Middle Of $21M Campaign Finance Fraud Case". Hip Hop Wired.
22. Carrega, Christina. (May 11, 2019). "Feds accuse Fugees rapper, fugitive businessman of allegedly funneling funds for 2012 presidential campaign".
23. (May 16, 2019). "Ex-Fugees member Pras Michel rules out plea deal in U.S. probe of foreign campaign funds in 2012 election". [[The Washington Post]].
24. (June 11, 2021). "Fugees rapper Pras, Jho Low charged in scheme to get Trump administration to drop 1MDB probe". [[CNBC]].
25. (June 11, 2021). "Jho Low Mounted Secret Lobbying Campaign Over 1MDB Probe, U.S. Says". [[Bloomberg News]].
26. (2021-06-10). "U.S. Entertainer/Businessman and Malaysian National Charged with Back-Channel Lobbying Campaign to Drop 1MDB Investigation and Remove Chinese Dissident from U.S.".
27. Friedman, Dan. "How a member of the Fugees got caught up in pro-China lobbying".
28. (2 March 2023). "The Fugee, the Fugitive and the FBI". [[Bloomberg Businessweek]].
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33. (January 19, 2023). "Businesswoman Sentenced for Facilitating Unregistered Lobbying Campaign in Exchange for Approximately $3 Million".
34. Lybrand, Holmes. (April 26, 2023). "Ex-Fugees rapper Pras Michel found guilty in scheme to help China influence US government".
35. (2025-11-20). "Fugees rapper Pras Michel sentenced to 14 years in prison over illegal donations to Obama campaign".
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37. "Pras Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".
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43. "Pras Michel > UK charts". [[Official Charts Company]].
44. (October 28, 1998). "Pras Goes Beyond Flash and Cash for "Ghetto Supastar"".
45. "Discographie Pras Michel". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
46. "Discografie Pras Michel". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
47. "Discography Pras Michel". Finnish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
48. "Pras Michel > UK Charts". [[Official Charts Company]].
49. {{cite certification