Pras

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Pras


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Prakazrel Samuel Michel
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1972|10|19
Died =
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre = Hip hop, Alternative hip hop, Soul, neo-soul, R&B, Reggae, Folk
Occupation = Vocalist: Singer/Rapper, Producer, Arranger, Songwriter
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Columbia, Ruffhouse
Associated_acts = The Fugees
URL =
Notable_instruments =

Prakazrel Samuel Michel, known as Pras, (born October 19, 1972) is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper, actor, film producer, and promoter for the hip hop trio The Fugees, considered one of the most influential groups of the 1990s for their album The Score.

Biography

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 and befriended 12-year-old Lauryn Hill. 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.

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 'Turn you on' by Swedish artist DeDe (www.dede.se) which was released in fall 2007. Turn you on" is also written and produced by Pras Michel.After nine weeks on Swedens single chart the single went No. 2. Pras and DeDe has been touring/ promoting 'Turn you on' around Sweden and Europe fall 2007 and july/august 2008. He also featured Pushin' from the album Equalize by acclaimed Brit-Asian electro-pop band Swami, which was released in fall 2007.

In 2008, Pras is slated to release an album under the Image Entertainment / Experience label, titled "Experience Magic".The first single and video from the album is "Pop Life".

Pras has won numerous awards - including two Grammys, a Billboard Award, multiple Brit Awards, a World Music Award, a Top of The Pops Award and a Video Music Award.

Other work

After his cameo debut in the 1999 film, "Mystery Men", Pras gained an interest in 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 is planned to receive producing credit on two of those films). Pras recently finished the film, "The Mutant Chronicles". In 2006, Pras created "Skid Row", 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 devastating reality of homelessness. Skid Row was released in 24 August 2007.

The experience of living on the street inspired Pras to launch prAsperity project in May 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.

In 2008, Pras launched a new media marketing company called Platinum Brand, a global provider of internet video solutions and services. He publishes and distributes a weekly video blog available on the site.

Discography

olo albums

* 1998: "Ghetto Supastar"
* 2005: "Win Lose or Draw"
* 2008: "Experience Magic"

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"

Collaborations

* 2007: Pushin' (Swami featuring Pras and Ishmael)
* 2008: Le blues de toi (Melissa M feat. Pras)

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)
* " [Skid Row [http://www.skidrowthemovie.com/] ] " (2007) - himself (producer)
* "The Mutant Chronicles" (2007)- Captain Michaels (producer)

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/prasmichel Pras' MySpace page]
* [http://platinumbrand.com Platinum Brand and Pras' video blog]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artist?id=69107 "Rolling Stone" page]
* [http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/pras/artist.jhtml MTV artist page]
* [http://imusic.artistdirect.com/showcase/urban/pras.html iMusic Urban Showcase artist page]
* [http://www.skidrowthemovie.com/ Skid Row (official movie site)]
* [http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200708/20070820_michel.html Pras Michel's interview with Tavis Smiley on PBS, August 20, 2007] - Pras discusses Skid Row the movie, homelessness & the possibility of a Fugees comeback
* [http://prasperity.com/ PrAsperity Project]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695247/ Pras Michel's filmography at the Internet Movie Database]