Search - Pras :: Win Lose Or Draw

1-1/2 stars -- It shouldn't even be possible for music to be

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 12/24/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Now, Pras Michel couldn't rap at all when he and the Fugees were known as Tranzlator Crew and they delivered Blunted On Reality (remember his verse in the otherwise dope "Nappy Heads"?). He had improved a little by the time The Score came out, but he still didn't have the skills to venture out on his own; maybe he did it because Lauryn Hill and Wyclef did the same thing (although only their first two respective albums were any good). Pras DID do a good job with the SONG "Ghetto Supastar", but I don't know anyone that picked up the album, or THIS album, Win Lose or Draw, which is just crap.



One main problem with this album is that Pras is calling out to wack emcees. Now, Pras is hardly the authority on washed-up rappers, which is pretty obvious by the failed party joint "Party's Ova". And the album's first song, the title track, is so bad that I didn't even want to listen to the rest of the album (not to mention that it doesn't make any sense).



Another song that doesn't make sense is "One Monkey Don't Stop the Show". And the lead single "Haven't Found" (which interpolates U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") is confusing because the chorus is about a troubled relationship while the verses are condemning war. Speaking of that, anti-war songs also fall flat, like "For Love", "Angels Sing" and "Mr. Martin". The latter two songs feature Wyclef and Akon, respectively, and they do nothing except bring the songs down.



The same can be said for the necessary song for the kiddies, "How It Feels", and unsurprisingly, the kids can't sing. Another skippable joint is the obligatory reggae crossover, "Dance Hall" (with Sean Paul and Spragga Benz), but it's also odd in that the chorus says you "can't test Spragga, Pras, Roundhead and Sean P". Who the hell is Roundhead?



Pras also falls when he makes songs for the ladies. "Mistakes" (which...nah, that's too easy) and "Dreamin'" are nothing special, but the latter is strange because guest vocalist Sharli McQueen sings the chorus: "See, I'm better off without you girl/Because the things you do I just don't approve." Why is a WOMAN singing that?



And you'd be better off not listening to this album. In fact, I'd even listen to any post-Carnival Wyclef Jean album before I listened to THIS again. This album came out in August and you see this is only the fourth review for it. It's because nobody cares about this album, and there's no reason TO care.



Anthony Rupert"

Win, Lose, Or Draw? I'm Just Surprised I Was Able To Listen

Charles L. Hubbert | Milwaukee, WI | 10/02/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I actually got through the entire cd, although I almost wish I hadn't! I don't know what it is about Pras and solo albums, but it's almost like he is lost without his Fugee counterparts on the tracks to save him. When there isn't someone there to guide him as far as his lyrics are concerned, he just goes off the deep end. That was his main problem with Ghetto Superstar, his debut solo album from 1998 on Ruffhouse Records. The only thing worth having from that album was the bonus disc with exclusive and unreleased Wyclef Jean tracks! This time around, he gets a little help in the production department which makes his album at least listenable. But Win, Lose, or Draw is nowhere near the success he wishes to have on his own.



The title track starts the album off okay with some stellar production, but then Pras opens his mouth and ruins it to the point where it doesn't matter how good the beat is. The same can be said about a bunch of songs on the album. "Dreamin" and "One Monkey Don't Stop The Show" both incorporate some decent R&B background singing, but then the kindergarten raps that plagues Pras' thought processes comes out again. This repeats again on "For Love" where the R&B singer does a better job than Pras! He desperately tries his hand at being compassionate on the song "Mistakes" where he pleas for a woman to give him another chance at love.



Even Wyclef Jean, who hasn't had a hit in years, brings little to the song "Angels Sing." But nothing gets as bad as "Mr. Martin," which features both the uninspired rapping of Pras alongside the tiresome singing of Akon all on one song! The calypso sounding "Party's Ova" sounds robotic when Pras proclaims "Time to turn off the lights....Party Is Over." And things go from bad to worst with "Haven't Found," where Pras borrow's the hook from U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." He does more borrowing on "Friend A' Foe" when he uses elements from Whodini's "Friends" and "Ghetto Politics" where he uses BDP's lyric "Criminal minded, you've been blinded" to start off this horrible track. He even goes as far as pulling a chorus of kids into the mix for the song "How It Feels," an obviously overused tactic that many others have utilized fruitlessly.



When the Fugees supposedly drop their reunion album in December '05, hopefully everybody will have forgotten about all the failed attempts of solo success from Pras as well as Wyclef's more recent works and Lauryn's Unplugged disc. Win, Lose, or Draw? When you compare Ghetto Superstar to this album, it's like comparing an 'F' to barely passing! Let's just say Pras didn't lose entirely with this album and leave it at that...because you certainly didn't win any brownie points from Fugee fans or the record label!

"

Pras Must Know Some Powerful People (1 Star)

Norfeest | Washington DC USA | 02/17/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"You know what, I'm not even gonna make my case for why this album sucks so bad. I'll post a few verses, let you see for yourself, and let you be the judge.



1) Win Lose or Draw: "You went from being a friend or foe//a friend or threat//from big green on you like that dude from Shrek..."



2) Haven't Found: "Spit these bars 'cause in the hood I'm the instrument//been around the world I stepped on seven continents//20 millions later, I settled the score//they got money for war but can't feed the poor..."



3) Mr. Martin feat. Akon: "Everytime I breathe, I feel like they killin' me//it's seems death is the only way to my destiny//you see crazy's the boy that goes against my wrath//I'm like Moses when I strike down my staff//see my wordplay is like arts & crafts//and my gunplay will blast any babylon in my path..."



As you can see, half of his rhymes make absolutely no sense. And the rhymes that do make sense are absolutely terrible. Not only has he shown no lyrical improvement, but Pras may actually be getting worse. He was never that great to begin with, but come on. He has to be good friends with some powerful label execs in order to have this album released to the public. Whoever signed off on this should be fired.



The only thing this album is good for is a good laugh. Just check out "Party's Ova", "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", and "Mr. Martin" to see for yourself. Aside from a few laughs, this album is good for very little else. If you smoke, you could probably break weed up on this CD. That's about all the useful purposes I can think of for this album.



Win Lose Or Draw is definitely a certified drink coaster. The lyrics are terrible, the beats are weak, and Pras simply does not know how to make good music. Not only can I not recommend buying this album, I recommend that you don't even download it. It would be a complete waste of time and hard drive space. And if anyone tries to give this to you for free, they aren't your friend. It's THAT bad. I seriously question the hearing and musical taste of anyone giving this more than 2 stars. I feel like I just wasted 59 minutes of my life. Two thumbs WAY down.



Standout Tracks: Don't kid yourself.....there are NONE."