Lauryn Hill has broken her silence for the first time since the sudden and shocking death of her longtime Fugees collaborator and musical soulmate, Pras Michel, in a brief but heavy statement shared late on January 18, 2026. The words — “I loved him, my family loved him…” — were posted to her Instagram story alongside a black-and-white photo of the two artists from the height of the Fugees era, arms around each other, laughing on stage. There was no long explanation, no official announcement — just pure, raw emotion breaking through while the pain is still fresh and unbearable.

Pras Michel, 52, was found unresponsive at his home in Miami on January 16, 2026. Authorities have not released an official cause of death, but sources close to the family told Billboard and Rolling Stone that he suffered a sudden cardiac event. The news sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community, with Pras remembered not only as one-third of the groundbreaking Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, but as a solo artist, producer, humanitarian, and loyal friend who helped shape some of the most influential music of the 1990s.

Lauryn’s statement was short, but its weight was felt immediately. The Fugees’ 1996 album The Score remains one of the best-selling hip-hop records of all time, and the trio’s chemistry — especially the vocal and creative synergy between Lauryn and Pras — was often described as magical. In recent years, despite legal battles, public feuds, and long periods of silence between members, Lauryn and Pras had quietly reconnected, performing together at select events and sharing private moments of support. Fans who followed their complicated history saw the post as a quiet, devastating acknowledgment that whatever differences existed, love and respect remained.

The Fugees reunited briefly for a 2021 tour and a 2024 Grammy performance, moments many hoped signaled a full reconciliation. Pras’s sudden death has ended those hopes. Wyclef Jean posted a simple black square with the caption “Rest in power, brother,” while Lauryn’s rare public words have moved millions. “She rarely speaks — when she does, it means everything,” one fan wrote under the reposted story.

Pras leaves behind a wife, three children, and a legacy that spans music, film production, and philanthropy. His 1998 solo album Ghetto Supastar and his work with the Fugees earned him Grammy wins, and he remained active in Haiti relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake.

Tributes continue to flood in from across the industry: Nas, Alicia Keys, Common, and dozens of others have shared memories of Pras’s warmth, humor, and talent. A GoFundMe for his family has already raised over $400,000 in 48 hours.

Lauryn’s five words — “I loved him, my family loved him…” — carry the weight of decades of shared history, creative highs, personal lows, and an unbreakable bond that even time and distance couldn’t erase. For fans, the post is more than grief — it’s closure, a final acknowledgment that the Fugees’ magic was real, and that its loss is profound.

The music world mourns a quiet giant. Lauryn Hill mourns a brother. And somewhere, in the silence between the notes, the Fugees’ story ends — not with a reunion, but with love that outlasts everything.

Rest in peace, Pras Michel.