The Pop Corporation

Yes, we understand that we led with quite the headline there, but this is a wild story that is going to require some working out. We could’ve added that we think Pras Michel might be representing himself as well, just for a bit of added MENTALNESS.

So, what’s going on and will we get sued for writing this? Let’s work it out together.

Pras, of course, was a member of The Fugees – he’s the one who was on ‘Ghetto Superstar’ and not the one who said “one time” on ‘Killing Me Softly. The MC has been accused of conspiring to make ‘illegal campaign contributions’ and failing to notify the US government of being ‘an agent of China’.

An agent of China. That means ‘spy’, doesn’t it? Or does it mean ‘snitch’? Christ alive. We’ve all got bills to pay, but lord, this is a bad look. Factor into this the world of rap and their relationship with authority and phewee, this is all a lot. Anyway, he’s said that he’s accepted around $20 million in 2012 from a businessman in Malaysia, because that person wanted a photo with Obama. Michel says that this wasn’t ever about illegal foreign campaign contributions or anything like that, but now it’s been mentioned, we’re all going to start wondering if that’s exactly what it was for, because we’d not thought of that prior.

Now, please try and not read the following name as J. Lo, like we keep doing.

Representing himself like Lionel Hutz, he said: “I looked at it as free money.” He insisted that the Malaysian businessman Jho Low basically paid him a massive wedge and he could spend it however he wanted. And this next quote is from actual, reputable news sources with proper journalists. Pras added: “I could’ve bought 12 elephants with it.”

Michel is charged with 10 counts total consisting of conspiracy, lying to the Federal Election Commission, witness tampering and failure to register as a foreign agent. Low, the co-defendant, is also charged with four felony counts of conspiracy and failure to register as a foreign agent, as well as being accused of stealing billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. However, he’s a fugitive who has gone on the run, which is a fun detail eh?

What a mess.

Prosecutors have alleged (you have to say that so you don’t get anyone coming after you, and because it’s right to do so) that Low and Michel plotted to donate Low’s money, via Michel to the 2012 Obama campaign to get Low access for his photo. Michel has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Michel told jurors that he gave around $800,000 to friends, which sounds nice, but it was so they could donate it their own names and get access to some private $40,000-per-seat Obama fundraisers. When someone says ‘you used that money to get near Obama’ and you say ‘no, I used that money to buy seats at an Obama fundraiser’, it doesn’t sound smart, does it?

“Did you ever make any donation to anybody on behalf of Mr. Jho Low?” Michel’s lawyer David Kenner asked on direct examination. “No”, said Pras. One of the things Pras has leaned on, when questioned if he knew what was going down was illegal, is ‘no, I didn’t know’, which feels like a thin soup of a defence, honestly, but it’s the American legal system which is a complete casserole of a thing, so what do we know?

If you think this looks bad for Obama, don’t worry! The whole of American politics has dirty underpants, as Michel has also been accused of helping Low to lobby Trump as well, helping Cheetoh Man’s administration to deport a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. on behalf of Chinese officials.

In the States, you have to register an agent of China under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, but Pras said that no-one told him that was necessary. AND THAT INCLUDES THE FBI AGENTS HE MET WITH.

Pras spoke to Rolling Stone and said he’s innocent. “What benefit would I get trying to break laws?” he told the publication. “It’s not worth it to me. I’m like a pariah now. I’ve got friends who won’t talk to me because they think there’s a satellite in orbit listening to them.”

The benefit, clearly, is millions of dollars, you dolt! Anyway, if you want the funny takes from social media, XXL have done a round-up and our favourite is the one about Warren Beatty. Click here for a read.