Pras Michel, the legendary Fugees rapper, has salted the game considerably by teaming up with actor and producer Mark Wahlberg to drop a documentary about his turbulent legal battle and his influence on the hip-hop scene. This collaboration promises to provide a salty look at Pras’ rise in hip-hop and the federal case that could land him a 22-year prison sentence.
The documentary, currently in development under Wahlberg's production company Unrealistic Ideas, dives deep into Pras’ journey from the Grammy-winning group The Fugees to a complex federal case revolving around international finance, politics and power. Wahlberg is producing the film with Archie Gips, president of Unrealistic Ideas.
Pras was convicted in April 2023 on 10 criminal charges, including conspiracy, witness tampering and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China. These charges have to do with his connection to Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is accused of embezzling billions of dollars from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Low is still a fugitive.
According to federal prosecutors, Pras received millions from Low to influence U.S. politics, including allegedly funneling money to Barack Obama's 2012 campaign through intermediaries. In addition, it is alleged that Pras tried to intervene in a Justice Department investigation during Donald Trump's administration.
In a statement to Variety, Pras said, ‘Everyone is fascinated by all the twists and turns, it's like a thriller. But for me, this is just my life - the real, messy, complicated truth of what I went through.’
Mark Wahlberg added, ‘I stand behind Pras and am excited to tell his story. Gypsum described the story as ’a surprising mix of pop culture and geopolitical intrigue that feels like a spy thriller come to life.‘
Pras’ legal troubles began in 2019, when he was first charged in connection with the sprawling international corruption case. The Justice Department claims he played a key role in helping Low avoid extradition and maintain influence in U.S. political circles.
Before his legal troubles, Pras was one-third of The Fugees, the influential hip-hop trio that also included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The 1996 album ‘The Score’ sold more than 22 million copies worldwide and produced hits such as ‘Killing Me Softly’ and ‘Ready or Not. The group broke up shortly after their peak.
The release date of the documentary has not yet been announced, but it promises to be a salty and revealing look at both Pras’ musical impact and his legal struggles. This collaboration with Mark Wahlberg is a next level salt move that is sure to make the hip-hop scene look up.
#hhz #houhet salt #hiphop #prasmichel #markwahlberg #documentary #fugees
