Pras
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| Pras | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Prakazrel Samuel Michel |
| Born | October 19, 1972 |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, Alternative hip hop, Soul, neo-soul, R&B, Reggae, Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist: Singer/Rapper, Producer, Arranger, Songwriter |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | Columbia, Ruffhouse |
| Associated acts | The Fugees |
Prakazrel Samuel Michel, known as Pras, (born October 19, 1972) is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper, actor, producer, and hype man for the hip hop trio The Fugees, considered one of the most influential groups of the 1990s for their album The Score.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn, New York and South Orange, New Jersey, Pras cultivated an early interest in music. When he was fifteen, Pras met 12-year-old Lauryn Hill, a talented singer whose star potential Pras recognized early on. In 1988, Pras introduced Lauryn to his "cousin", Wyclef Jean, and subsequently formed a musical group called the Tranzlator Crew. The group soon changed its name to The Fugees, as a tribute to the many Haitian refugees desperately crossing the ocean to the United States.
[edit] Music career
Before and during the time that The Fugees were recording their first album, Blunted on Reality, Pras attended Rutgers College 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. To date, the Fugees retain the title of best-ever selling hip-hop group, with sales reaching over 30 million albums.
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 #8 most played single; it was received with critical acclaim and earned Pras a performance at the World Music Awards. The hit single was included in the soundtrack for the Warren Beatty-starring film, "Bulworth". "Ghetto Superstar" spent eight weeks in the UK Top 5, peaking at number 2 in July of 1998, and reached US #15 a month later. "Blue Angels", from the same album, was acknowledged as a UK Top 10 hit, reaching #6 in November of the same year.
Pras also featured on the track 'Pushin' from the album Equalize by acclaimed Brit-Asian electro-pop band Swami, which was released in fall 2007.
March 2008, Pras will release an album under the Image Entertainment / Experience label, titled "Experience Magic". The first single and video from the album is "Pop Life".
With numerous awards to his credit - including two Grammys, a Billboard Award, multiple Brit Awards, a World Music Award, a Top of The Pops Award and a Video Music Award, Pras has continued to develop his career as a successful music artist and actor.
[edit] Other work
After his cameo debut in the 1999 film, "Mystery Men", Pras focused his energy on Hollywood. In 2000, Pras starred in the New Line film, Turn It Up. In early 2002, he appeared in the Sony/Urban World release "Higher Ed", and "Go For Broke", in which he starred and produced. He is co-starring in three 20th Century Fox films, to be released in 2007–2008 (he will receive producing credit on two of those films). Pras recently finished the film, "The Mutant Chronicles".
In 2006, Pras created "Skid Row", a hard-hitting documentary account of his nine-day experience posing as a homeless person living in downtown Los Angeles. Using a hidden camera, Pras captured the devastating reality of homelessness, with first-person stories that are heart-rending and vivid. Skid Row was released in 24 August 2007.
The experience of living on the street inspired Pras to launch prAsperity project in May of 2007. prAsperity project is a non-profit organization that jump-starts awareness and solutions for intractable problems affecting the human condition. The organization takes on humanity "projects" as distinct crusades that need attention, working on behalf of established community groups to inject energy and progress towards issues ranging from homelessness to social injustice.
On an edition of MTV Cribs, he revealed he has houses in New York and California, where he keeps his car collection.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
- 1998: Ghetto Supastar
- 2005: Win Lose or Draw
- 2008: Experience Magic
[edit] Solo Singles
- 1998: "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mýa)
- 1998: "Blue Angels"
- 1998: "Another One Bites the Dust" (Queen featuring Wyclef Jean, Pras & Free)
- 1999: "What'cha Wanna Do" (featuring The Product & Free), Remix (featuring Kelis & Clipse)
- 1999: "Avenues" (featuring Refugee Camp Allstars)
- 2001: "Miss California" (Dante Thomas featuring Pras)
- 2005: "Haven't Found"
- 2007: "Turn You On" (DeDe featuring Pras)
- 2007: "Pop Life promo single from the soon to be released CD Experience Magic
- 2008: "My Ex first official single from the soon to be released CD Experience Magic
[edit] Acting and producing career
- Mystery Men (1999) - Tony C (credited as Prakazrel Michel)
- Turn It Up (2000)- Denzel/Diamond (credited as Pras Michel) (co-producer)
- 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 (2006) - himself (producer)
- The Mutant Chronicles (2007)- Captain Michaels (producer)
[edit] External links
- [1] Pras "myspace" page
- Rolling Stone page
- MTV artist page
- iMusic Urban Showcase artist page
- Skid Row (official movie site)
- Pras Michel's interview with Tavis Smiley on PBS, August 20, 2007 - Pras discusses Skid Row the movie, homelessness & the possibility of a Fugees comback
- PrAsperity Project
- Pras Michel's filmography at the Internet Movie Database
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