by Chris Chavez
Daily Lobo
With his first album in seven years, Fugee member Prakazrel "Pras" Michel continues to add to the argument that he is the weakest link in the Fugee chain.
The Fugees, started by Pras in 1987, were initially known as the Tranzlator Crew. The group consisted of Pras and Lauryn Hill. Wyclef Jean, Pras' cousin, eventually joined and the band was renamed the Fugees.
The group released its debut album, Blunted on Reality, in 1994.
In 1996 the Fugees' sophomore album, The Score, earned the group critical and commercial success.
Jean was the first to attempt a solo outing. The Carnival, released in 1997, instantly became a hip-hop classic and established Jean as a credible solo artist.
Hill's solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, was released in 1998 and overshadowed everything the Fugees had accomplished previously. Hill won numerous Grammy awards, including album of the year.
Pras became the no-talent member of the Fugees, based on his lack of commercial success as a solo artist.
Seven years after Ghetto Supastar, Pras is back with his second solo album, Win Lose or Draw.
The album was produced by Pras, as was his first solo album. Similar to Ghetto Supastar, the production is the highlight of Win Lose or Draw. Every track on the album is top-notch from a production point of view.
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Several tracks on Pras' new album bring back memories of The Score with the blending of hip-hop and reggae genres. Pras was executive producer on The Score, while Hill and Jean took backseats as co-producers on the group's breakout album.
It's Pras' inability to craft entire songs that make Win Lose or Draw a disappointment. The majority of songs have undecipherable lyrics and the hooks are typically unrelated to the subject matter.
The union between the music and the lyrics is never met on Win Lose or Draw. Many tracks, including "Ghetto Politics" and "Light My Fire," showcase Pras' talent behind the boards and his lack of talent behind the mic. Pras is a gifted musician and he is essential to the Fugee collective, but lyrically he falters.
Win Lose or Draw does have a few highlights. "Angels Sing," which features Jean, is the first track the duo has worked on together since "We Trying To Stay Alive" in 1997. Jean's vocals along with Pras' production only leaves one wishing for a vocal appearance from Hill on the track.
Another noteworthy track is "Haven't Found." The song is bound to receive heavy rotation on MTV and in the clubs. The song heavily samples U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
Die-hard Fugee fans may be pleased with Pras' return to rap music, but most will be waiting for what they have really been looking for: a new Fugee record.
