Holy Intellect Explained

Holy Intellect
Type:	Album
Artist:	Poor Righteous Teachers
Cover:	Holyintellect.jpg
Released:	May 29, 1990
Recorded:	1989−1990
Genre:	Hip hop
Label:	Profile Arista 01515-11289
Producer:	Tony D Eric IQ Gray
Next Title:	Pure Poverty
Next Year:	1991

Holy Intellect is the debut album by hip-hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, famous for its pro-Five-Percenter messages.^{[1] [2]} It includes "Rock Dis Funky Joint", which sampled "Slippin' into Darkness" by War, a 1970s funk band.

The album is broken down track-by-track by Poor Righteous Teachers in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.^[3]

Critical reception

The Washington Post stated that Poor Righteous Teachers "promote black unity, a 'knowledge of self', which, combined with swinging grooves, tasteful samples and swift rapping, makes for a funky, uplifting experience."^[4] The New York Times noted the "nimble, free-associative raps over riffs that change just often enough".^[5]

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources "100 Best Rap Albums".^[6]

Track listing

• All tracks produced by Tony D, except tracks 8 and 10 produced by Eric IQ Gray

	Title	Performer (s)
1	"Can I Start This?"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
2	"Rock Dis Funky Joint"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
3	"Strictly Ghetto"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
4	"Holy Intellect"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
5	"Shakiyla"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
6	"Time to Say Peace"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
7	"Style Dropped/Lessons Taught"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
8	"Speaking Upon a Blackman"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
9	"So Many Teachers"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
10	"Word from the Wise"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
11	"Butt Naked Booty Bless"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom
12	"Poor Righteous Teachers"	Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[7]	142
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[8]	17

Singles

Year	Song	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1990	"Rock Dis Funky Joint"	17	4
1990	"Holy Intellect"	71	16

Notes and References

1. Book: Reeves . Marcus . Somebody Scream! Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power . 2009 . Farrar, Straus and Giroux . 86.
2. News: Leland . John . The Trick Is Keeping It Positive . Newsday . Mar 3, 1990 . Part II . 17.
3. Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
4. News: Mills . David . Rap and the Righteous; The Hip-Hop Movement's New Message Music . The Washington Post . Aug 12, 1990 . G1.
5. News: Pareles . Jon . 'Radical' Rap: Of Pride and Prejudice . The New York Times . Dec 6, 1990 . A1.
6. 100 Best Rap Albums . November 24, 2007 . The Source .
   1. 100
   . January 1998 . New York . 1063-2085.
7. Web site: Poor Righteous Teachers, TLP. Billboard. April 2, 2021. subscription.
8. Web site: Poor Righteous Teachers, BLP. Billboard. April 2, 2021. subscription.
9. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. April 2, 2021.