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Biography
About|Pras, the musical artist|the computer science concept "polynomial-time randomized approximation scheme" or PRAS|polynomial-time approximation schemeBLP refimprove|date=April 2012Infobox musical artist| name = Pras| image =| caption =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Prakazrel Samuel Michel| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1972|10|19| death_date =| origin = Brooklyn , New York City , New York, U.S.| genre = Hip hop music|Hip hop , alternative hip hop , Soul music|soul , neo-soul , Contemporary R& B|R& B , reggae , Folk music|folk | occupation = Rapper, multi-instrumentalist , singer , songwriter , record producer , music arranger|arranger | years_active = 1992–present| label = Columbia Records|Columbia , Ruffhouse Records|Ruffhouse , Guerrilla Entertainment| associated_acts = Fugees , Refugee Camp All-Stars Prakazrel Samuel Michel , known as Pras , (IPA-en|'pr??z|pron; born October 19, 1972) is a two-time Grammy Award|Grammy -winning American rapper, best known one of the founding members of the critically acclaimed hip hop group, the Fugees , which included fellow cousin, international recording artist Wyclef Jean and American R& B/Hip-Hop recording artist Lauryn Hill .
Biography
Early life
Born and raised in Brooklyn , New York, Pras cultivated an early interest in music. When he was 15, Pras met Lauryn Hill . In 1988, Pras introduced Lauryn to Wyclef Jean . Pras Michel, Wyclef Jean and Lauryn 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).
Music career
In 1994, before and during the time that The Fugees were recording their first album Blunted on Reality , under the supervision of Ronald Khalis Bell, Pras attended Rutgers College and Yale University , pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Psychology.cite web|url= http://dajaz1.com/pras-talks-2pac-suge-knight-wyclef-lauryn-hill-beef-on-the-champs-podcast/|title=Pras Talks 2Pac, Suge Knight, Wyclef, Lauryn Hill & Beef on the Champs Podcast|publication=Dajaz1.com|author=Rahul|date=May 17, 2012|accessdate=May 19, 2012|
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 #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 film Bulworth . "Ghetto Supastar" spent eight weeks in the UK Top 5, peaking at number 2 in July 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. Citation needed|date=December 2009 Pras also featured on the track "Turn you on" by Swedish artist http://www.dede.se DeDe which was released in fall 2007. "Turn you on" is also written and produced by Pras Michel. After nine weeks on Sweden's single chart the single went #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 (band)|Swami , which was released in fall 2007. Citation needed|date=December 2009 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. Citation needed|date=December 2009
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 (film)|Turn It Up . In early 2002, he appeared in the Sony/Urban World release "Higher Ed," and " Go for Broke (2002 film)|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 . Citation needed|date=December 2009 In 2006, Pras created "Skid Row," a documentary account of his nine-day experience posing as a homeless person living in Skid Row, Los Angeles, California|downtown Los Angeles . Using a hidden camera, Pras captured the devastating reality of homelessness. Skid Row was released in August 24, 2007. The film was produced by Teryn Fogel.cite web | url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795381/ | title=IMDB "Skid Row" | accessdate=2010-12-04 | publisher=IMDB
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 IPTV|Internet video solutions and services. He publishes and distributes a weekly video blog available on the site.
Discography
Albums
1998: Ghetto Supastar
2005: Win Lose or Draw (album)|Win Lose Or Draw
Singles
; " Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) " # "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (Main Version) # "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (Instrumental) # "Don't Be Afraid"
CD2 # "Blue Angels" # "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (The Black Apple Remix) # "Murder Dem"
; " Another One Bites the Dust " # "Another One Bites The Dust" (New LP Version) # "Another One Bites The Dust" (Team 1 Black Rock Star Main Pass) # "Another One Bites The Dust" (Team 1 Black Rock Star Radio Edit)
; "What'cha Wanna Do" CD1 # "What'cha Wanna Do" (LP Version) # "What'cha Wanna Do" (Bang Your Head Remix) # "What'cha Wanna Do" (Seani B Remix)
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.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
The Fugees Persondata | NAME = Pras | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = 1972-10-19 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = Category:1972 births Category:American rappers Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:Grammy Award winners Category:American people of Haitian descent Category:American rappers of Haitian descent Category:Living people Category:Yale University alumni Category:Haitian actors Category:Haitian rappers
cs:Pras da:Pras de:Pras Michel es:Pras fr:Pras Michel id:Pras Michel it:Pras Michel sw:Pras ht:Pras Michel nl:Pras Michel no:Pras Michel nn:Pras Michel pl:Pras Michel sk:Prakazrel Michel sv:Pras th:????
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