The album features guest appearances from Nelly, Miguel, Currensy, Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, Busta Rhymes and Ryan Leslie along with production by RZA, Boi-1da, Harry Fraud, S1, Terrace Martin, Oh No, and J. Cole among others.

"Come Here", produced by Sean C and LV and featuring Miguel, has a 70s feel, something Kweli appreciated with the formers' contributions on Jay-Z's American Gangster.

[7] The album also features guest appearances from Melanie Fiona, Nelly, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, Abby Dobson, Seu Jorge, Ryan Leslie and Busta Rhymes among others.

It featured guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Ryan Leslie, Styles P, Greg Nice, Mack Maine, Das Racist and Black Thought among others.

[8] On July 31, 2012, the first single was released in promotion of the album titled "Push Thru" featuring Glen Reynolds, Kendrick Lamar and Curren$y.

"[22] Mike Madden of Pitchfork gave the album a 6.1 out of 10, saying "Listening to Prisoner next to something like the new Chance the Rapper tape reveals the record’s biggest, most pervasive dilemma.

"[26] Homer Johnsen of HipHopDX gave the album three out five stars, saying "Coined by Peter Benenson in 1961, a “Prisoner Of Conscience” is defined as “a person who has been imprisoned for holding political or religious views that are not tolerated by their own government.” Kweli is not calling himself a prisoner of conscience, but he is calling on his listeners to think outside the box, while being aware of top-down mental imprisonment.

At the same time, he is also tackling the notion that he is a “prisoner” of the conscious rapper label by balancing the insular brand of Hip Hop championed by many of his early fans, with newer, more radio-friendly content.

In a time where ill minds have begun using violence towards the innocent with greater frequency, Prisoner Of Conscious provides uplifting messages, as well as displays of artistic versatility.

"[24] Chris Kelly of Fact gave the album two and a half stars out of five, saying "Prisoner of Conscious is simply missing the songs it needs, not only to reach a wider audience, but to truly engage its core one.

Both the beat and Kweli's rhymes sound disappointingly flat, but in some ways, the fact that Echelon falls short is a good thing – it means he was genuinely trying to make a leap.