Artist: Pras Michael, Album : Win, Lose or Draw (Universal)

Pras Michael is the last of the Fugees to roll the dice in embarking on a solo project: Following the demise of the hip- hop/rap crossover act, Lauryn Hill has scored mega success with the Miseduction of Lauryn Hill, whereas Wyclef Jean has released a spate of albums to mixed reviews.

Pras' first solo release was Ghetto Supastar in 1998, an obscure album that soon vanished into oblivion. However, the album won him a spot in the hip-hop world as a party rapper.

Win, Lose or Draw is the Haitian emigre's attempt to be taken more seriously. "I was compromising myself then. So for this album, I was determined to do it my way," the New Jersey emcee said.

Drawing more from his Carribean roots, Win has Pras' slick rapping that shies away from hip-hop's masochism and machoism and delves into larger-than-life themes, such as human solidarity, revolution and wading through to the New Babylon.

Little wonder that, to accompany the socially conscious lyrics, Pras assembled tunes heavily influenced by Jamaican reggae beats and Santana-esque guitar licks.

Rarely a hip-hop album sounds this positive. -- M. Taufiqurrahman