Poor Righteous Teachers: DJ Father Shaheed Dies

NJ.com is reporting that DJ Father Shaheed, a member of the Trenton hip-hop trio Poor Righteous Teachers (PRT) born Scott Phillips, has died. Amy Kuperinsky of The Star Ledger writes:

“Shaheed, 45, was riding his motorcycle on the Sprain Brook Parkway in New York when another motorcyclist allegedly crashed into a car, causing the car to hit Shaheed, making him crash into a tree.”

Poor Righteous Teachers debuted in the 1990s as a rap group promoting black consciousness informed by the Five Percent Nation. Their infectious beats and creative wordplay separated them from other “conscious” rap groups. While they were not as commercially successful as Public Enemy, X-Clan or Brand Nubian, they were a critical success. They are most widely known for their hit  “Rock Dis Funky Joint,” from their 1990 debut album Holy Intellect. 

http://youtu.be/3s4F9BZiWj8

PRT released the album Pure Poverty in 1992 which spawned the hit “Easy Star.”

Shaheed is one-third of the group composed of MC Wise Intelligent and Culture Freedom. Wise Intelligent thanked fans for their outpouring of support and paid homage to his partner.

“We were more than just a ‘rap group’ and Shaheed was more than just a member and brilliant DJ/producer. He was a great human being, a loyal friend, a great father, a great brother, a damn good son, and a committed husband.”

Legendary rap group and PRT contemporaries Public Enemy offered condolences to Shaheed’s family.

DJ Father Shaheed was 45.

Read more at NJ.com.

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