Poor Righteous Teachers was a hip hop group from Trenton, New Jersey, found… Read Full Bio ↴Poor Righteous Teachers was a hip hop group from Trenton, New Jersey, founded in 1989.[1] Often referred to as PRT by its fans, Poor Righteous Teachers was known as a pro-Black conscious hip hop group, with musical content inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. Wise Intelligent, as the lead MC, was the most visible and well known member of the group. Culture Freedom provided backing vocals and production, and Father Shaheed served as a DJ and producer. About.com ranked the group's lead MC, Wise Intelligent, number five on its list of the 10 Most Underrated Rappers, calling him "one of the most creative MCs of our time."[2]

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 Intellect, in 1990,[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] In 2006, Cha-Ching Records released Rare & Unreleased, a compilation of rare Poor Righteous Teachers songs and remixes.[4][5]

PRT had a short feud with rapper YZ over reels of tapes that YZ would not give back to its owner, PRT.[6]

Father Shaheed died on May 26, 2014, from a motorcycle accident.[7]

144K
Poor Righteous Teachers Lyrics

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Teacher teacher come in teacher teacher
Schools business now that's what im talking
None can i test so they sit back and listen
Clean out your ears and figure out who i'm dissing
Misleaders telling me i'm african
Wont let me teach em so i sit back and laugh at them
Fool ass niggas, what are y'all trying?
By the way peace to the daughters up in zion, wisin'

I'm in the mood for love, not a hit
I'm dub slam dunkin on scrubs, check it
Stay off the drugs if you wanna be down with this posse
See p.r.t. is rockin
Shock me, gimme something different
Keep ya pretty wicked for the kids thats getting swifted
Some fail to follow, so they call them strange
We come to teach the kids about their roots and things

Well sittin to the table on the continent
With some etheopeans, a couple nigerians tellin me
Juda, not many liked ya
Run it like Titus, jealous so they fight ya

Seventy AD they ran ya into africa
Sixteenth centery sold you to america
This ain't no joke, see i ain't lyin
This is revelation from the children up in Zion, tryin'

Say what I say 144k spray blacks to the save
Say what i say 144k hey budda ba ba ba bai

Blacktop man from ghetto man hard
Betta watch all your feet man so watch how you walk
Blacktop man from ghetto man aff
Inna da ghetto mood you know we move it up hard

Speaker speakers don't bust so quickly
No need frisk me, look you know i'm packin
Black men ask them who rocks the hardest
Talk of the country, Wise by a margin
Daggan gaggan hold up a minute
Let flows that slip get back on my chin
Its just like it used to be
93 million miles from my planet but you still me shinin

Blind men see now the deaf men hear
And the dumb man speaks because I civilized him
Section off a fraction from the Wise
Culture free black girl pick up your life
Come Jah heed

Comon now denounce, skip the boozin ass
Educate the mass because we're extra size
I've gots do this because I'm-
Y equals knowledge, born-

New style black you teach truth thats what I'm tryin
Wild 'em
Marchin up to zion

Say what i say, 144k
Budda bum bum bum bai

Shock out shock out gonna make ya body move
Shock out shock out cuz we deep ina da groove
Shock out shock out hip hop atop the root
Shock out shock out yes we come from in groove

I let my culture teach em
So here be Jah talkin
When i just speakin
We are so walkin

Spice up the spot like the jerk on the chicken
Nice of the shots when the black mans lickin

I study all i can then i come again
Must teach the truth even if i lose another friend
I shoot my rap right up the back slider
He wants the grammy turn tongue biter

Always talking about what they did for the rhyme scene
Listen, for mine you ain't did a damn thing
From the clear picture, i think you gotta see this, genius
Work it and respect it while i swing this, see its

Black but come the old borders of jerasulem
Get back on the prof again
I got the skill, stamina, rammin-a, dancin-a
Sackin i'm dope as shit

Lyrics to burn down blocks and rock with
Lots of DJs suckin the world of hip hoppin
Jump on my cock and ride (up el a babylon)??
Windin, children of zion

Say what i say 144k
Blacks to the safe
Say what i say 144k
Hey ba bai bai bai bai

Blacktop men from ghetto man hard
When you movin out the ghetto better watch how you walk
Blacktop from the ghetto man hard
When you livin up out the ghetto no you cant be stop
Someone-a test your feet wan see how you steer
They pullin out the gun n kill em dead right away

Tellim its harass 'em in no joker with no clip
In the boy inna the dancema we shoot em right away

Black top men from ghetto man hard
Kill a pussy boy make him shut up the spot

Black top im shoot the boy inna the block
Tell him its a harrassa yes me ...?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Poor Righteous Teachers' song "144K" aim to educate about black history, promote unity among black people, and criticize those who mislead them. The opening lines of the song includes a challenge to the schools that teach inadequate history and a warning against those who mislead people by claiming they are African without proper teaching. The group aims to enlighten the listener about their African roots and inspire them to embrace it. The phrase "144K" refers to a spiritual concept in the Bible of a select few who will be saved from destruction. The group believes that these selected few will be made up of black people who are educated about their history and spirituality.

The song also calls for the preservation of hip hop culture and the need for authenticity in the craft. The Poor Righteous Teachers aim to set themselves apart from other hip hop artists who prioritize fame and money over the substance in their lyrics. The group assures the listeners that they will continue to teach the truth, regardless of how much it may cost them.

Overall, the song has a message of unity, education, and empowerment for black people to reclaim their history and spirituality. It challenges the listener to recognize false teachings and embrace the truth.

Writer(s): Timothy Wadell Grimes, Scott D. Phillips, David V Jr. Jones

Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS