Pure Poverty

Pure Poverty
Studio album by Poor Righteous Teachers
Released	September 3, 1991
Recorded	1990−1991
Genre	Hip hop
Length	52:26
Label	Profile [1]
Producer	Tony D
Poor Righteous Teachers chronology
Holy Intellect (1990) Pure Poverty (1991) Black Business (1993)

Pure Poverty is the second album by the American hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers, released in 1991. ^{[2] [3]} "Shakiyla [JRH]" was released as a single. ^[4]

Production

The album was produced by Tony D. ^[5] "I'm Comin' Again" references the philosophy of Black Muslims. ^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]

The Washington Post wrote that "Tony D has put together some more muscular grooves, and Wise Intelligent swift-lips with authority, occasionally doing it dance hall style." ^[8] Newsday deemed the album "Muslim rap at its best, with a strong reggae dancehall feel," and listed it as one of the best albums of 1991. ^[9]

AllMusic noted that "if it weren't for the spare, airtight beats and the dexterous samples, their lyrics of cultural awareness, self-sufficiency and religious discipline would probably have fallen flat." ^[7]

Track listing

#	Title
1	"Shakiyla [JRH]"
2	"Easy Star"
3	"Self-Styled Wisdom"
4	"Hot Damn I'm Great"
5	"Strictly Mash'ion"
6	"The Nation's Anthem"
7	"Each One Teach One"
8	"Rappin' Black"
9	"Just Servin' Justice"
10	"Freedom or Death"
11	"Methods of Droppin' Mental"
12	"Pure Poverty"
13	"I'm Comin' Again"

Album chart positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200 [10]	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1991	Pure Poverty	155	23

Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1991	"Shakiyla [JRH]"	-	61	9

References

1. "Pure Poverty, Poor Righteous Teachers". News. The Star-Ledger. October 27, 1991.
2. "Poor Righteous Teachers Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Ehrlich, Dimitri (October 1991). "Spins". Spin. 7 (7): 103.
4. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 591.
5. "Pure Poverty by Poor Righteous Teachers". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 36. September 7, 1991. p. 66.
6. Goldberg, Robert Alan (October 1, 2008). Enemies Within: The Culture of Conspiracy in Modern America. Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-13294-6 – via Google Books.
7. "Poor Righteous Teachers - Pure Poverty Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
8. Mills, David (September 29, 1991). "Public Enemy as Icon: Setting the Standard for Afro-Centric Rap". The Washington Post. p. G1.
9. "The Music Top Tens". Fanfare. Newsday. December 29, 1991. p. 20.
10. Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 618.

External links

• Pure Poverty at Discogs (list of releases)