Photo Credit: Lauryn Hill by Lisa Liang / CC by 2.0
Fugees rapper Pras Michel drops his 2024 lawsuit against his former bandmate Lauryn Hill that accused her of fraud and “gross mismanagement.”
Pras Michel of the Fugees has dropped his lawsuit against his former bandmate Lauryn Hill, which accused her of a “scheme of fraud” involving Fugees reunion shows and “gross mismanagement.”
Michel sued Hill in 2024, alleging a wide range of wrongdoing, including claims that she exploited his highly public legal troubles to coerce him into agreeing to a reunion tour. Naturally, Hill vehemently denied the accusations, calling Michel’s lawsuit “full of false claims and unwarranted attacks.”
Now, according to a court filing on Wednesday, attorneys for both parties agreed that Pras Michel would voluntarily drop his lawsuit. No further details were revealed, and neither side immediately returned media requests for comment.
The elephant in the room is that Pras Michel is due to begin a 14-year prison sentence later this month, stemming from his 2023 conviction on conspiracy charges and illegal foreign lobbying in connection with Malaysian fugitive and businessman Jho Low. Although Michel is currently appealing that verdict and asking the court to allow him to remain free in the meantime, that’s a long shot.
Notably, the dismissal of Michel’s case was filed “with prejudice,” which means he could theoretically refile the case at a later date. But given the more pressing matter of his impending incarceration, he may not be too focused on pursuing litigation against Hill.
The Fugees, comprising Hill, Michel, and Wyclef Jean, ascended to fame in the ‘90s with hits like “Killing Me Softly,” “Ready or Not,” and “Fu-Gee-La.” The group disbanded in 1998, with all three members pursuing successful solo careers. Only in recent years have they made serious attempts to reunite, but these have mostly been fraught with infighting.
In 2019, Pras Michel was the subject of sweeping federal criminal charges over accusations that he funneled money from Malaysian businessman Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the billion-dollar 1MDB embezzlement scheme. He was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and last year was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $64 million allegedly linked to the fraud.
