The devastating earthquake that has decimated Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and elicited the sympathy and support of millions, is bringing the out the best in mankind, uniting people in ways that sadly seems to happen only when tragedy strikes. That united spirit is also working its way into the minds (and maybe the ice box hearts) of The Fugees, namely Pras, aka that dude who wasn't Wyclef. Pras spoke with MTV, giving his perspective on the quake and his plans to help out as best he can. He also dropped dime that he was trying to get Lauryn Hill to agree to a Fugees reunion for a benefit show:
The other potential fundraiser he's working on is a Fugees benefit concert aimed at motivating people to give. "That's the only reason I would think about doing anything on that level," he said of reuniting with 'Clef and estranged third member Lauryn Hill, a prospect that has been mentioned a number of times over the past few years. Pras said he's reached out to Hill's camp but has not heard back yet.
SAY WHAT?! Now admittedly, after that disastrous reunion in 2004-2005, people aren't really thirsty for the Fugees to reunite since it's now confirmed that Lauryn Hill's brain is off the ranch, out of service and floating somewhere far, far away. And while Wyclef has given his piece on why he thinks the reunion didn't work, Pras has been especially vitriolic toward Lauryn, blaming her specifically in interviews for being an insufferable...well, you know. From 2007, in an interview with AllHipHop.com:
"Before I work with Lauryn Hill again, you will have a better chance of seeing Osama Bin Laden and [George W.] Bush in Starbucks having a latte, discussing foreign policies, before there will be a Fugees reunion," Pras told AllHipHop.com. "At this point I really think it will take an act of God to change her, because she is that far out there."
So given that Pras is openly pondering a Fugees reunion, should we now presume that Bush and Bin Laden met up at Starbucks and dished about the China, Hugo Chavez and the latest celebrity gossip over cups of vanilla latte?
Let's not count those proverbial chickens before they hatch. Though Pras is reaching out to Lauryn, the likelihood of this Fugees reunion happening seems slim. The bad blood is too thick and Lauryn Hill is a full-on recluse. She hasn't been into the Hollywood scene in years and her voice is worn out worse than Whitney Houston's. So even if the three did put egos aside for the greater good, the whole thing would likely still end up an underwhelming, unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for all. Sort of like a running a marathon while wearing a soggy, stinky adult diaper.
Still, we'll never know unless we try. Lauryn, pick up the phone and give The Fugees one mo' try.
(NOTE: To donate to the victims of the devastating earthquake that has rocked Haiti, visit Wyclef's YELE.org to make a donation.)
