Poor Righteous Teachers Digital Biography

The Poor Righteous Teachers are a trio of African American hip hop musicians from Trenton, New Jersey, founded in 1989, as a more positive rap group as an alternative to the gangsta style (which they vehemently defend). Often referred to as PRT by their fans, Poor Righteous Teachers are known as pro-Black conscious hip hop artists who are members 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. The trio released their first album, Holy Intellect, in 1990, spawning their only major radio hit, Rock Dis Funky Joint. This album was followed by Pure Poverty the following year. Their follow-up and most successful release to date has been 1993’s Black Business, which drew criticism for alleged homophobia. Their fourth release was The New World Order. 

Wise Intelligent released a solo CD titled Killin’ U for Fun in 1995.  Frontman Wise Intelligent dropped an excellent solo record Killin' U For Fun in '96, and a "best-of" compilation called Righteous Grooves appeared in '99. After several years of silence, PRT regrouped in 2001 for the little-heard Declaration of Independence. In 2007, Wise Intelligent is expected to release a second solo CD titled Wise Intelligent iz…The Talented Timothy Taylor. Wise Intelligent was featured on Oh No’s album Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms.

About.com ranked the group's lead MC, Wise Intelligent, #5 on its list of the 10 Most Underrated Rappers, calling him "one of the most creative MCs of our time."

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!”

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.

(sources: last.fm, artistdirect.com, rhapsody.com, wikipedia.org)

 

photo credits include: ballerstatusdotcom, cocainebluntsdotcom, dj savone, grooveattackdotcom, rap pack, rockersnycdotcom, source magazine nov '91

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