Pras Michel has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent track, “Bar Mitzfa.” Following the abrupt cancellation of The Fugees’ North American reunion tour, many fans interpreted the song as a diss aimed at fellow group member Lauryn Hill. However, Pras insists that the track is not intended as an attack but rather as a form of artistic expression.
Pras Confirms It Is “Not a Diss Track”
In an interview with Vulture, Pras clarified the intention behind “Bar Mitzfa.” “I want to preface this by saying it’s not a diss track,” he explained. “You’re family, you have internal disagreements, but it’s not going to be on a level where I’m dissing her — that doesn’t make any sense.”
Pras emphasized that the song was his way of expressing the frustrations that had built up over time, particularly regarding the canceled tour. “Everyone’s frustration has been building up. This is not something that just happened overnight. My frustration was for the fans,” he said. The track includes lines such as, “Don’t blame me, blame her, she made the mess,” which Pras described as his “truth” at the moment.
The Canceled Tour and Fan Reactions
The sudden cancellation of The Fugees’ U.S. tour left many fans disappointed and frustrated. Pras expressed his own mixed feelings about the situation. “I was both surprised and not surprised,” he said. “Last year, there were supposed to be 20 shows, and we did ten. They were all sold out, but ten extra shows needed to be done that she canceled.”
Pras acknowledged that fans had grown increasingly weary of the group’s unpredictable tour schedule, particularly given Hill’s reputation for tardiness. “I’ve never seen this kind of fan reaction toward Lauryn Hill,” he noted. “There is a rejection… But this is not an indictment of her and her character. All people are complaining about is lateness.”
Despite the challenges, Pras remains hopeful about the group’s future performances, particularly the upcoming European leg of the tour. “If the tour in Europe can be cleared up, I want to come,” he said.