Tone Fultz, the Pittsburgh-based producer and emcee who steps to the microphone as MESSIAH OF MADNESS, is a cornerstone of his city’s assertive boom-bap scene. His craft as a producer is well-established, having lent his distinctive ear to two tracks for Wu-Tang affiliate Solomon Childs, and notably helming the acclaimed Iron Angeles LP for Dios Negasi. This deep immersion in classic, hard-hitting Hip-Hop culminated in a pivotal career moment when his work was praised on Shade 45’s Rap Is Outta Control. His forthcoming solo effort, Bare Knuckle Boom Bap, was originally conceived as a producer album, but Fultz’s creative spirit pushed him to seize the mic on every cut, making it a dual effort that speaks volumes about his commitment to the culture.
The moment “Talk To Um” drops, it’s a Celebratory & Warm welcome back to the head-nodding grit of fundamental Hip-Hop production. Fultz, wearing his MESSIAH OF MADNESS alias, enlists the lyrical might of Solomon Childs, and the result is a meeting of minds that feels less like a feature and more like a passionate town hall meeting. The track is built on a foundation of knocking drums, an ominous loop of tinkling keys, and a warped vocal sample—a backdrop that the description calls “audio violence extraordinaire.” Yet, the energy feels less violent and more like an essential, urgent declaration.
This declaration is crucial when we consider the heavy topic of Gentrification and displacement. Pittsburgh, like so many industrial cities, is constantly grappling with who gets to stay and who must go as neighborhoods change under external pressure. The classic boom-bap framework is inherently connected to the streets and communities that birthed it. When MESSIAH OF MADNESS and Solomon Childs stand on a beat this solid and “drop the realness,” they are effectively planting a flag. They are using this music as a cultural marker, asserting that this genre, this voice, and these stories are not going anywhere, regardless of how many new high-rise condos pop up.
What elevates “Talk To Um” beyond mere frustration is its core function as Joy as resistance. There is a clear, palpable enjoyment in the performance. The emcees aren’t just complaining about systems; they are reveling in the skill, the wordplay, and the cultural strength they possess. Their lyrical aggression is an act of self-preservation, a refusal to let the spirit of their neighborhoods be co-opted or erased. It is the deep, defiant happiness that comes from creating something powerful, something lasting, and something that connects directly to those who feel unseen.
The collaboration here is particularly beautiful. Fultz’s long-standing relationship with Solomon Childs—a genuine connection forged through shared work—highlights the importance of community building in the face of systemic obstacles. This track is a call to action wrapped in a head-bopping beat, a passionate piece of journalism delivered through the mic, and a powerful signal that Bare Knuckle Boom Bap is going to be far more than just a collection of hard beats. It’s going to be an indispensable conversation.
Listen to “Talk To Um” here:
