Pras

Prakazrel Samuel Michel, known to the world as Pras, was born on October 19, 1972. He is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, record producer, and singer, who gained fame as a member of the influential hip-hop group Fugees. Formed in 1990 alongside fellow New Jerseyans Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, the group became a defining force in the genre.

In 1996, Pras embarked on a solo career, signing with Columbia Records. His debut single, "Avenues," featuring the Refugee Camp All-Stars and Ky-Mani Marley, marked his entry into the Billboard Hot 100, followed by the Grammy Award-nominated hit "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" in 1998. This track, featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa, was part of the soundtrack for the film Bulworth, and both singles preceded the release of his debut studio album, Ghetto Supastar.

Pras's collaborations extended beyond hip-hop; in 1998, he worked with Wyclef Jean and the legendary rock band Queen on a remix of "Another One Bites the Dust," which achieved significant success on the UK Singles Chart. His talents also earned him recognition in the television industry, culminating in a Daytime Emmy Award in 2017 for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series as a producer on the web series The Bay.

However, Pras's career faced challenges when he became embroiled in legal issues starting in 2019. He was charged with criminal conspiracy related to alleged illegal donations to President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and for lobbying the Trump administration regarding the 1MDB scandal. In 2023, he was found guilty of ten criminal counts in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, leading to a fourteen-year prison sentence handed down in November 2025.