Fugees member Pras Michel was found guilty in federal court in Washington on Wednesday (April 26) of 10 criminal counts related to an international conspiracy, per CBS. Michel faced multiple counts of failed conspiracy to help Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government gain access to US officials, including former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Michel testified he paid his friends money so they could donate to Obama’s campaign and attend the dinner, the publication reported. On the stand, he told the jury that he was paid approximately $20 million to get a picture of himself with Obama for Low, and that 10% of the money was going to go towards paying his friends to attend the dinner. Michel said that the money was his and not Low’s. He testified that the intent was not to break the law but to grab the photo for Low.

In his defense, Michel testified that he saw it as his money which he could spend however he wanted. “I could have bought 12 elephants with it,” he told the jury per CNN.

During Trump’s presidency, investigations started to pile up on Low and “his alleged role in billions of dollars being embezzled from 1MBD, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, Low went to Michel again, prosecutors alleged.”

According to the prosecutors, Low directed over $100 million to Michel to help push the government, including Trump, to drop its investigation into Low, the publication reported. The hip-hop star said the $100 million was not for Trump but for a “media business he was starting and the investment wasn’t from Low.”

Low is still at large and was charged along with Michel. Low is to believed to be in China.

The Best Hip-Hop and R&B Songs Of March 2023

• "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" - Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj dropped “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” last month which interpolates the 2003 hit “Never Leave You” by Lumidee. Nicki seemingly called out Megan Thee Stallion with the lines “700 on them horses when we fixin’ to leave/ But I don’t fuck with horses since Christopher Reeve” and “That .40 cal a make ’em dance like a go-go,” which could be in reference to Tory Lanez allegedly shooting Megan in the foot while shouting, “Dance, bitch, dance!” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart.

• "Dogtooth" - Tyler, The Creator

  Tyler, The Creator dropped his deluxe version of Call Me If You Get Lost titled the Estate Sale last month. Prior to the release of the album, he dropped “Dogtooth.” Tyler wrote on Twitter that “Dogtooth” was one of the songs that “didn’t make the cut” when finalizing his Grammy-winning LP. Tyler has three guest features on the deluxe LP with a Vince Staples-assisted “Stuntman,” “Boyfriend, Girlfriend” with YG, while A$AP Rocky joins the Odd Future rapper “Wharf Talk.”

• "Area Codes" - Kali

  Kali dropped “Area Codes” last month and had the song trending all over TikTok. In the record she raps about having a different guy providing for her in various places around the world. “Area Codes” follows the Georgia rapper’s “Dangerous” freestyle she dropped in January.

• "Float" - Janelle Monáe

  Following Janelle Monáe’s stunning performance in Glass Onion, the Kansas City native has gone back to music with her release of “Float.” She teased the song in a video using photos from her island vacation. The song catches Monáe being open about a transitional period where a newfound confidence has emerged.

• "Ain't Gonna Answer" - NLE Choppa and Lil Wayne

  NLE Choppa and Lil Wayne linked up for “Ain’t Gonna Answer” last month. The song will be featured on Choppa’s next project titled Cottonwood II. This was the first time the two rappers collaborated. Cottonwood II is set to be dropped on April 14.

• "What It Is (Block Boy)" - Doechii feat. Kodak Black

  Doechii enlisted Kodak Black for “What It Is (Block Boy).” The song samples the 2004 “Some Cut” by Trillville feat. Cutty and interlopes TLC’s 1999 classic “No Scrubs.” This is Doechii’s first single of 2023. Kodak has been featured in quite a few songs in 2023 including “I Remember” with Roddy Ricch, “Colors” with Trippie Redd, “King Snipe” with Gucci Mane, and “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Remix” with King Combs.

• "Boom, Pt .2" - Mello Buckzz ft. Latto

  Mello Buckzz enlisted Latto for “Boom Pt. 2.” The original song titled “Boom” featured Amari Blaze, Moni Da G, and Kashh Mir. For the music video, Latto used her feature to clap back at haters while she twerked in her cheetah print thong that made headlines back in January. After a fan called her out for seemingly wearing the same pair, the Atlanta native claried that she has a drawer full of them on Instagram Live.

• "Creepin' Remix" - Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy, & 21 Savage

  Metro Boomin brought out Diddy to help out with the remix to “Creepin'” which also features The Weeknd and 21 Savage. The original song is found on Metro’s 2022 project titled Heroes & Villains. “Creepin'” however has remained a standalone hit from the album spent over 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. A remix with Diddy makes sense since Metro sampled the Bad Boy Records founder’s 2004 hit “I Don’t Wanna Know” with Mario Winans featuring Enya and himself.

• "Don't Play With It Remix" - Lola Brooke ft. Latto and Yung Miami

  Lola Brooke took her 2021 hit and got Latto and City Girls’ Yung Miami to hop on for a verse. The original “Dont Play With It” features Billy B. This is Lola’s second single of 2023 as she also dropped “So Disrespectful.”

• "Cheatback" - Chlöe Bailey ft. Future

  Chlöe Bailey put Future on “Cheatback” which is off her debut solo album In Pieces. The song details Chlöe being fed up about having to deal with her boyfriend cheating so she decides to do the same thing. In Pieces also features contributions from Chris Brown and Missy Elliott.

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