Pharaoh Lum: Pittsburgh’s Voice of Purpose Returns With “Ain’t Been Stepped On”
In an era where hip-hop often moves at the speed of trends, Pharaoh Lum has built his career on something far more durable: intention. The Pittsburgh-based artist, podcaster, and nonprofit coordinator has never approached music as background noise. For Lum, every verse is reflection — of community realities, personal evolution, and the quiet determination required to stay authentic in a fast-moving industry.
the awareness of pharaoh
“I’ve always been aware of what’s going on around me — in the world and in my community,” Lum explains. “So when I rap, I naturally end up having something to say.”
That instinct has shaped a catalog rooted in substance rather than spectacle, earning Lum a grassroots audience that connects as much to his message as his sound. His journey has included notable moments — opening for artists like Kevin Gates and Freeway, working with BET, and securing a Reebok sponsorship — but he measures success differently than most.
trials and tribulations
“The biggest highlight honestly has been the people,” he says. “A lot of the friends I made through music became family.”
Like many independent artists, Lum’s path has also required navigating the less visible realities of modern music careers: self-promotion, branding, and constant output pressures. A self-described perfectionist, he admits his greatest obstacle has often been internal.
“I take the creative process seriously,” he says. “Sometimes I’ve spent too much time in my head and not put out as much as I should. And being independent means doing multiple jobs at once — marketing, design, everything.”
Yet even during quieter release periods, the work never stopped. Writing remained constant — sometimes for the public, sometimes just for himself and those closest to him. That sustained commitment now fuels his latest release, “Ain’t Been Stepped On,” a record that encapsulates his defining themes: resilience, self-respect, and perseverance without compromise.
More than a comeback statement, the single serves as an introduction — or reintroduction — to an artist whose goals remain grounded. Lum isn’t chasing virality or industry spectacle. His ambitions are both simpler and harder: reach people, affect them positively, and build enough freedom to create music entirely on his own terms.
Goals and aspirations
“My goal is to touch as many people as I can,” he says. “I just want to introduce myself and my music to people and let them decide if they want more.”
With additional music on the horizon and an album in progress, Pharaoh Lum stands where he has always stood — at the intersection of awareness and artistry, speaking not the loudest, but often the most sincerely.
And in a landscape crowded with noise, sincerity still travels far.
