POOR RIGHTEOUS TEACHERS - BIO Hailing from Trenton, NJ, childhood companions Wise Intelligent and Culture Freedom of Donnelley Homes housing projects, aka "Divine Land" formed the critically acclaimed and Legendary Hip Hop group known to the world as the Poor Righteous Teachers circa 1987. Not long after DJ Father Shaheed joined the group, completing the soon to be legendary trio. The groups name "Poor Righteous Teachers" is a reference to the Five-Percent Nation belief that 5% of the world’s population are “Poor Righteous Teachers” who's duty it is to teach the science of everything in life which is love, peace and happiness, to all the human families of the planet earth. Poor Righteous Teachers made the acquaintance of producer Tony Depula (aka Tony D, also from Trenton, NJ) and began recording their first professional project. PRT released their first single Time To Say Peace/Butt Naked Booty Bless with the bonus Word is Bond independently on Northside Records - a local label owned and operated by Eric I.Q. Gray, in early 1989. After receiving radio play from the legendary Kool DJ Red Alert, PRT signed a deal with Profile Records and released their debut album Holy Intellect in 1990.

Not yet out of their teenage years the groups first single to be released with a music video "Rock Dis Funky Joint" took the rap world and country by storm. A young PRT members was literally swept off the corner of a North Trenton, NJ housing project, and on the road touring the USA, UK, and Europe overnight. PRT released five incredible albums throughout their illustrious career. Throughout his career Poor Righteous Teachers have collaborated and performed with world renowned artist like: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, The Fugees, Mos Def, Public Enemy, KRS ONE, Ice Cube, Too Short, X Clan, Junior Reed, Ms. Jones, and many others. The groups groundbreaking certified gold first album – Holy Intellect – was released on Profile records in 1990 and introduced the world to one of the most unique and revolutionary sounds in Hip Hop history. Their equally impressive follow up album Pure Poverty was released in 1991 and cemented their place as one of Hip Hop’s most elite groups. Black Business (1993/Profile), New World Order (1996/Profile), and the recorded and leaked, but never officially released Declaration of Independence (2001/Exit 7a Records) continued to build on PRT’s standard of lyrical excellence and commitment to raising the consciousness of all the human families of the planet earth. Between 1989 and 1996 the group’s albums sold a collective 2 million records. Poor Righteous Teachers have performed on several national and international tours covering all of the United States and Canada, London, Germany; Auschwitz, Fribourg, Switzerland; Zurich, Holland; Amsterdam, France, etc. Throughout all of PRT'S work, the group has espoused the virtues of community service and activism as embodied in the struggle of poor people around the world. Growing up in any ghetto in any country around the world is not an easy task. Urban decay, joblessness, homelessness, racism, drugs and death are just a few of the things that await the children of the world, and the Poor Righteous Teachers have always stood on the front lines of that struggle. GROUP MEMBERS

Wise Intelligent: is currently 5 albums into a solo - 7 CD box-set titled "Back 2 School" for Intelligent Muzik Group, which includes 7 Periods: 1st Period The Talented Timothy Taylor 2008; 2nd Period The UnConkable Djezuz Djonez 2011; 3rd Period El Negro Guerrero 2013; 4th Period Stevie Bonneville Wallace 2016; 5th Period PONZIE 2018; as well as Blessed Be the Poor 2005; TheBlueKluxKlan 2017; and Game of Death w/ the incomparable beat god Gensu Dean for Mello Music Group, also 2017. Wise has recently relocated to Atlanta, GA where he has recorded 2 of his 7 Periods w/DJ Pocket of Serious Knock Ent. Wise has also relaunched IntelligentSeedz a youth media initiative founded by Wise and award winning documentary film director Stacey Muhammad of Wildseed Films.

Culture Freedom: Culture Freedom: Straight out of Central New Jersey, this Trenton native is no newcomer to the hip-hop forum. Writing rhymes and producing beats since the young age of thirteen, Culture Freedom has the experience of a well seasoned poet and the ability to captivate an audience with his powerful presence. Through his rhymes, Culture Freedom conveys a scenario of what's going on in the inner city without all the hype of glorifying negative lifestyles and perpetuating violence. To his credit, Culture Freedom, a.k.a. Cult-Free, has been actively working in the music business performing, writing, and producing for over 20 years as a member of the trio, Poor Righteous Teachers.In 2001, Culture Freedom made the decision to move his family to Nashville, Tennessee, where he has been able to successfully grow in the field of Culinary Arts as a Chef, raise and nurture his family, and teach, together along with his wife, as leaders of youth ministry, where he was eventually licensed and ordained as a Minister & Evangelist. During the course of this time, Culture Freedom has continued making beats, writing rhymes, releasing several solo projects, and has successfully learned how to shoot and edit film. What has always remained a constant in the life of Culture Freedom is his determination to teach strong positive messages, and ever since being drawn closer the the Word of God, Culture Freedom is determined to spread the “Good News” to the masses through the creative movement of film, food, music and fashion (Cult -Free Collection) without pushing away the very audience he is trying to draw. The best is yet to come! "Live Cult-Free!"

Father Shaheed: In 2014 Poor Righteous Teachers, the community and world suffered the loss of DJ/Producer Father Shaheed to an unfortunate motorcycle accident. Father Shaheed left behind an outstanding body of work, producing Poor Righteous Teachers critically acclaimed New World Order album in 1996, and going on to produce for many artists including Rakim, 50Cent, 112, and Destiny's Child among others. #RIPFatherShaheed