Poor Righteous Teachers

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Poor Righteous Teachers
(left to right) Father Shaheed, Culture Freedom and Wise Intelligent
Background information
Origin	Trenton, New Jersey
Genre(s)	Hip Hop
Years active	1989 – 1996, 2001
Label(s)	Profile Records
Members
Wise Intelligent Culture Freedom Father Shaheed

Poor Righteous Teachers are a Hip Hop group from Trenton, New Jersey, founded in 1989. Often referred to as PRT by their fans, Poor Righteous Teachers are known as pro-Black conscious hip hop artists, with musical content inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. Wise Intelligent, as the lead MC, is the most visible and well known member of the group. Culture Freedom provides backing vocals and production and Father Shaheed serves as a DJ and producer.

1 Recording history
2 Discography
3 Sources
4 External Links
5 See also

[edit] Recording history

PRT debuted in 1989 with the release of the single "Time to Say Peace" b/w "Butt Naked Booty Bless". The trio released their first album, Holy Intellect, in 1990, amidst a number of similarly pro-Black, Islam-inspired albums such as Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, X-Clan's To the East, Blackwards and Brand Nubian's One For All. While not as commerically successful as these albums, Holy Intellect received critical acclaim, and spawned the group's only major radio hit, "Rock Dis Funky Joint". PRT returned in 1991 with their sophomore album, Pure Poverty. The album was not as commerically successful than their debut, and was not as acclaimed. The lead single "Shakiyla (JRH)", became a minor rap hit that year. Their third, and possibly most successful release to date, Black Business, was released in 1993. Sales were once again limited, but the album was a critical success, despite criticism for alleged homophobia. The album's lead single, "Nobody Move", received little radio airplay. Wise Intelligent released his first solo album, Killin' U for Fun, in early 1996, and was met with mixed reviews and no significant amount of sales, failing to reach any Billboard album chart. After a three-year hiatus, PRT returned as a group in 1996 with their fourth album, The New World Order. Released in a new Hip Hop era, the album received little attention, failing to reach the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's lead single, "Word Iz Life", was barely able to reach the Hot Rap Singles chart, peaking at the chart's lowest position, #50. Despite the lack of significant attention, the album, like their past releases, received significant acclaim. The group didn't return until 2001, when they dropped the rare underground release Declaration of Independence. In July 2006, Wise Intelligent's independent label, Intelligent Muzik, released a mixtape titled Blessed Be The Poor? - The Un-Mix Tape. In 2007, Wise Intelligent will release a second solo album titled Wise Intelligent iz...The Talented Timothy Taylor. A fifth Poor Righteous Teachers album is expected to follow the Wise Intelligent solo project.

[edit] Discography

Album cover	Album information
	Holy Intellect Released: March 16, 1990 Billboard 200 chart position: #142 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #17 Singles: "Time to Say Peace"/"Butt Naked Booty Bless", "Rock Dis Funky Joint", "Holy Intellect"/"Self-Styled Wisdom"
	Pure Poverty Released: July 1, 1991 Billboard 200 chart position: #155 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #23 Singles: "Shakiyla (JRH)"/"Stricly Mash'ion", "Easy Star"
	Black Business Released: September 14, 1993 Billboard 200 chart position: #167 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #29 Singles: "Nobody Move"/"Da Rill Shit"
	The New World Order Released: October 1, 1996 Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #57 Singles: "Word Iz Life"/"Dreadful Day", "Conscious Style"