Poor Righteous Teachers
Encyclopedia
Poor Righteous Teachers is a hip hop
group from Trenton
, New Jersey
, founded in 1989. Often referred to as PRT by its 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.
, in 1990, amid a number of similarly pro-Black 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 commercially 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 its second album, Pure Poverty
. The album was not as commercially successful as its debut, and was not as acclaimed. The lead single "Shakiyla (JRH)", became a minor rap hit that year. The group's 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. The album's lead single, "Nobody Move", received little radio airplay. After a three-year hiatus, PRT returned as a group in 1996 with its 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 its past releases, received significant acclaim.
In 2001, Poor Righteous Teachers dropped the rare underground release Declaration of Independence. In 2006, Cha-Ching Records released Rare & Unreleased, a compilation of rare Poor Righteous Teachers songs and remixes.
PRT had a short feud with rapper YZ
over reels of tapes that YZ would not give back to its owner, PRT.
When not in the studio putting “scripture to ghetto drums” Wise Intelligent spends his time as a Youth Media program director doing “What Would Djezuz Do,” giving young inner-city youth the skill set to tell their unique stories and to rise above the impediments of the environment in which they are embedded. The UnConkable Djezuz Djonez is scheduled for a 2010 release and will be followed by a 20th Anniversary Poor Righteous Teachers studio album entitled “Post Racial Blues.” In the mist of recording, performing and establishing the entertainment media brand – Intelligent Media Group – closer to the end of 2010, or early first quarter 2011, Wise Intelligent will be releasing his first literary effort. The work is titled “3/5ths an MC: The Manufacturing of a Dumbed Down Rapper!”
http://inthehereafter.blogspot.com / http://www.youtube.com/wiseintelligent / http://www.twitter.com/wiseintelligent
Wise Intelligent has also appeared as a featured artist on songs including "Close The Crackhouse" with Professor X of X-Clan
, "Wake Up! (Reveillez-vous)" with Assassin, "WMD" with Jel, "Engage My Words" with Blue Sky Black Death, "Black" with Oh No, and "Teacher's Trademark" with Snowgoons. Wise Intelligent also appeared on a collaboration for the Stop The Violence Movement headed by KRS-One
titled "Self Destruction." In 2011 Wise Intelligent is scheduled to drop 2 solo albums. The first one is an entire album dedicated to Black Women called "The Black Earth Project". The 2nd is called, "Wise Intelligent Iz...El Negro Guerrero" which means The Black Warrior.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group from Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, founded in 1989. Often referred to as PRT by its 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
The Nation of Gods and Earths
The Nation of Gods and Earths, sometimes referred to as NGE or NOGE, the Five-Percent Nation, or the Five Percenters is an American organization founded in 1964 in the Harlem section of the borough of Manhattan, New York City, by Clarence 13X, a former student of Malcolm X, who left his mosque...
. 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.
Career
PRT debuted in 1989 with the release of the single "Time to Say Peace" b/w "Butt Naked Booty Bless." The trio released its first album, Holy IntellectHoly Intellect
Holy Intellect is the debut album by hip-hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, famous for its pro-Five-Percenter messages. The album includes the hip-hop classic "Rock Dis Funky Joint", which sampled "Slippin' Into Darkness" by War, a 1970s funk band....
, in 1990, amid a number of similarly pro-Black albums such as Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet
Fear of a Black Planet
Fear of a Black Planet is the third studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released April 10, 1990, on Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. Production for the album was handled by the group's production team The Bomb Squad, who expanded on the dense, sample-layered sound of the...
, X-Clan
X-Clan
X-Clan is a hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York, originally consisting of Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X The Overseer, Paradise the Architect, and Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider...
's To the East, Blackwards
To the East, Blackwards
To The East, Blackwards was the debut album from hip hop group X-Clan.The lyrics heavily promote Afrocentrism, railing against racism and socioeconomic oppression of African-Americans. Brother J serves as the main MC, while Professor X punctuates verses with powerful declarations and recitations of...
, and Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
's One for All. While not as commercially 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 its second album, Pure Poverty
Pure Poverty
Pure Poverty is the second album from Hip Hop group Poor Righteous Teachers. The album was another acclaimed effort for the group, but wasn't as commercially successful as their debut.- Track listing :-Samples:*"Shakiyla "...
. The album was not as commercially successful as its debut, and was not as acclaimed. The lead single "Shakiyla (JRH)", became a minor rap hit that year. The group's third, and possibly most successful release to date, Black Business
Black Business
Black Business is the third album from hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers. The group followed the success of their past work with another highly acclaimed effort.-Track listing:-Album chart positions:-Singles chart positions:...
, was released in 1993. Sales were once again limited, but the album was a critical success. The album's lead single, "Nobody Move", received little radio airplay. After a three-year hiatus, PRT returned as a group in 1996 with its fourth album, The New World Order
The New World Order (album)
The New World Order is the fourth and final studio album by Hip Hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, released three years after their critically successful Black Business album. The effort didn't sell as well as their past work, but received strong reviews...
. Released in a new Hip Hop era, the album received little attention, failing to reach the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
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 its past releases, received significant acclaim.
In 2001, Poor Righteous Teachers dropped the rare underground release Declaration of Independence. In 2006, Cha-Ching Records released Rare & Unreleased, a compilation of rare Poor Righteous Teachers songs and remixes.
PRT had a short feud with rapper YZ
YZ (rapper)
YZ is a rapper from Trenton Hills, New Jersey. He is best known for his two early-1990s albums.YZ is the owner of Blackworld Entertainment, a management firm...
over reels of tapes that YZ would not give back to its owner, PRT.
Wise Intelligent Solo Projects
Five albums released in the 1990s: Holy Intellect, Pure Poverty, Black Business, Killing U For Fun and The New World Order; three national and two world tours. Over a decade later, ten years later, in 2006, Wise Intelligent released a mixtape titled "Blessed Be The Poor?". In 2007 – Wise Intelligent – front man of the critically acclaimed, Trenton, New Jersey based rap trio Poor Righteous Teachers releases The Talented Timothy Taylor.When not in the studio putting “scripture to ghetto drums” Wise Intelligent spends his time as a Youth Media program director doing “What Would Djezuz Do,” giving young inner-city youth the skill set to tell their unique stories and to rise above the impediments of the environment in which they are embedded. The UnConkable Djezuz Djonez is scheduled for a 2010 release and will be followed by a 20th Anniversary Poor Righteous Teachers studio album entitled “Post Racial Blues.” In the mist of recording, performing and establishing the entertainment media brand – Intelligent Media Group – closer to the end of 2010, or early first quarter 2011, Wise Intelligent will be releasing his first literary effort. The work is titled “3/5ths an MC: The Manufacturing of a Dumbed Down Rapper!”
http://inthehereafter.blogspot.com / http://www.youtube.com/wiseintelligent / http://www.twitter.com/wiseintelligent
Wise Intelligent has also appeared as a featured artist on songs including "Close The Crackhouse" with Professor X of X-Clan
X-Clan
X-Clan is a hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York, originally consisting of Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X The Overseer, Paradise the Architect, and Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider...
, "Wake Up! (Reveillez-vous)" with Assassin, "WMD" with Jel, "Engage My Words" with Blue Sky Black Death, "Black" with Oh No, and "Teacher's Trademark" with Snowgoons. Wise Intelligent also appeared on a collaboration for the Stop The Violence Movement headed by KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
titled "Self Destruction." In 2011 Wise Intelligent is scheduled to drop 2 solo albums. The first one is an entire album dedicated to Black Women called "The Black Earth Project". The 2nd is called, "Wise Intelligent Iz...El Negro Guerrero" which means The Black Warrior.
Discography
| Album information |
|---|
| Holy Intellect Holy Intellect Holy Intellect is the debut album by hip-hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, famous for its pro-Five-Percenter messages. The album includes the hip-hop classic "Rock Dis Funky Joint", which sampled "Slippin' Into Darkness" by War, a 1970s funk band....
|
| Pure Poverty Pure Poverty Pure Poverty is the second album from Hip Hop group Poor Righteous Teachers. The album was another acclaimed effort for the group, but wasn't as commercially successful as their debut.- Track listing :-Samples:*"Shakiyla "... |
| Black Business Black Business Black Business is the third album from hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers. The group followed the success of their past work with another highly acclaimed effort.-Track listing:-Album chart positions:-Singles chart positions:... |
| The New World Order The New World Order (album) The New World Order is the fourth and final studio album by Hip Hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, released three years after their critically successful Black Business album. The effort didn't sell as well as their past work, but received strong reviews... |
External links
- 2005 Wise Intelligent Interview
- 2006 Wise Intelligent Interview
- Myspace
- http://www.purevolume.com/wiseintelligent
- http://www.intelligentmuzik.com
- Wise Intelligent interview