Prakazrel Samuel Michel (born October 19, 1972), known professionally as Pras, is an American rapper, producer, actor, and filmmaker. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Haitian immigrant parents, he became internationally known as a founding member of the hip-hop trio the Fugees, alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.
Michel and Jean began developing the group in the late 1980s, initially performing under the name Tranzlator Crew. Hill later joined the lineup, and the trio adopted the name Fugees, a reference to Haitian refugees. Their debut album, Blunted on Reality, was released in 1994. Although the record leaned toward the harder-edged sound favored by contemporary hip-hop, it already displayed the group's combination of rap, soul, reggae, and socially aware themes.
The Fugees reached their artistic and commercial peak with The Score in 1996. Built around sharp production, live musical elements, reggae influences, and inventive reinterpretations of established songs, the album became one of the defining rap releases of the 1990s. Its singles included "Fu-Gee-La," "Ready or Not," and the group's version of "Killing Me Softly," which featured Hill on lead vocals. The Score became a global bestseller and earned the Fugees two Grammy Awards. Within a year, however, the trio had effectively dissolved as its members pursued separate careers.
Pras moved quickly into solo work. His debut album, Ghetto Supastar, appeared in 1998, led by the single "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)." Featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya, the track combined a prominent sample with a radio-friendly chorus and became Pras' signature solo success. It reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the UK singles chart. The song was also featured in the soundtrack to the film Bulworth, strengthening Pras' connection to the film and television industries.
His second solo album, Win, Lose or Draw, was released in 2005. It attracted less attention than his debut, but continued his interest in blending hip-hop with pop, reggae, and R&B. He later issued the Wave Culture EP in 2018 and remained active through collaborations and occasional music projects.
Michel also worked as an actor and producer. His screen credits include appearances in Bulworth, Mystery Men, and Turn It Up. He served as a producer and central participant in the documentary Sweet Micky for President (2015), which followed the Haitian presidential campaign of musician Michel Martelly. The project reflected Michel's continuing interest in Haiti, politics, and documentary storytelling.
In 2023, Michel was convicted in federal court on ten counts connected to illegal campaign-finance activity and undisclosed foreign influence operations involving Malaysian financier Jho Low. The case concerned efforts to funnel foreign money into the 2012 U.S. presidential election and later attempts to influence American officials on behalf of foreign interests. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison on November 20, 2025, and reported to a federal prison in Arizona on April 30, 2026. The conviction and sentence are being appealed.
Throughout his career, Pras has been defined by a wider range of interests than his relatively small solo discography suggests. His importance rests primarily on his role in the Fugees, his contribution to one of the most influential rap albums of the 1990s, and the international impact of "Ghetto Supastar."