Post by Filip on Nov 23, 2005 13:55:05 GMT 1
Spotlight Artist: Pras Michel
by The N
Pras Michel definitely knows what it's like to live on a rollercoaster. He's been on one hell of a ride ever since his meteoric rise as one third of the Fugees (along with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean) turned into the tumble-down of the Fugees breakup not-so-long afterwards. And when the success of Lauryn's and Wyclef's solo efforts dwarfed that of Pras' Ghetto Supastar, it had to feel a little like the part of the log flume where you get soaked; especially since he wasn't all that stoked on the album himself. Having been rushed into the studio after the surprise success of the single he recorded as a demo, Pras is pretty philosophical about the album that came out of the experience: "I really can't blame anyone but myself, because I didn't have to deliver the album. But when you get caught up in the gas, and you're young, and there's so much helium going on around you, you can't decipher the real end."
But that's all in the past; just as the Fugees debut album didn't really reflect the important contributions they would eventually make to hip hop with The Score, Win Lose or Draw reflects a much sager Pras... one determined to focus more on the music and less on the demands of the industry. "For this album I was determined to do it my way," he says. "Take my time. I’m gonna win, lose or draw on my own."
Getting back to his roots as a sociopolitical hip hop artist, Pras has poured his heart and passions into the new album. Rather than listen to studio heads who wanted him to fill it with guest spots from this and that flavor of the month producer or rapper, Pras stuck to his gut. "I didn’t want to do the whole, get the hottest person thing," he explains. "I wanted to make sure every record felt right. The record Clef and I did, 'Angel Sings,' was just sitting there. So I said, 'Clef, I got a record, hit a verse on it.' He just went in, messed around and ended up doing the hook too."
Trusting his own ear -- which has been pretty good to him when he and the studios really let it work its magic -- is what makes Pras Pras, and what makes his music so personal and affecting. “I’m just one of those firm believers that good music will prevail. I think there’s always room for people to hear different styles of music, especially when it comes from the heart."
by The N
Pras Michel definitely knows what it's like to live on a rollercoaster. He's been on one hell of a ride ever since his meteoric rise as one third of the Fugees (along with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean) turned into the tumble-down of the Fugees breakup not-so-long afterwards. And when the success of Lauryn's and Wyclef's solo efforts dwarfed that of Pras' Ghetto Supastar, it had to feel a little like the part of the log flume where you get soaked; especially since he wasn't all that stoked on the album himself. Having been rushed into the studio after the surprise success of the single he recorded as a demo, Pras is pretty philosophical about the album that came out of the experience: "I really can't blame anyone but myself, because I didn't have to deliver the album. But when you get caught up in the gas, and you're young, and there's so much helium going on around you, you can't decipher the real end."
But that's all in the past; just as the Fugees debut album didn't really reflect the important contributions they would eventually make to hip hop with The Score, Win Lose or Draw reflects a much sager Pras... one determined to focus more on the music and less on the demands of the industry. "For this album I was determined to do it my way," he says. "Take my time. I’m gonna win, lose or draw on my own."
Getting back to his roots as a sociopolitical hip hop artist, Pras has poured his heart and passions into the new album. Rather than listen to studio heads who wanted him to fill it with guest spots from this and that flavor of the month producer or rapper, Pras stuck to his gut. "I didn’t want to do the whole, get the hottest person thing," he explains. "I wanted to make sure every record felt right. The record Clef and I did, 'Angel Sings,' was just sitting there. So I said, 'Clef, I got a record, hit a verse on it.' He just went in, messed around and ended up doing the hook too."
Trusting his own ear -- which has been pretty good to him when he and the studios really let it work its magic -- is what makes Pras Pras, and what makes his music so personal and affecting. “I’m just one of those firm believers that good music will prevail. I think there’s always room for people to hear different styles of music, especially when it comes from the heart."
