Khul Rhema
Crunk Keeper of the Word
Tico Hudson, aka Khul Rhema, a Stellar award-winning producer and one of the originators of infusing the crunk sound into Holy Hip Hop as member of hit gospel rap group Ziklag Boys, is back on the mic with his upcoming national solo debut “What the World Needs Now”. Promising to add some heat to one of the hottest months of the year, the July 3rd, 2007 release adds a bit of maturity to his characteristic energetic crunk sound.
With a rap moniker that literally means “keeper of the word” in ancient Aramaic, his goal was to maintain the same party feel he’s known for while including a thread of God’s greatest commandment – to love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves – throughout the entire project. And like most sold-out believers, God’s love is now something that Tico is intimately acquainted with, but it wasn’t always that way. Through a series of events that included dealing drugs, death threats, gang affiliation, and homelessness – Tico eventually accepted that the power of God could change his life. It is this acceptance that led Tico to the artistry that is admired by so many today.
After encountering gospel rap for the first time, Tico’s initial negative reaction to the genre turned around when Tico realized that it was God’s will that he get on the mic and use his gift of making music to represent the Kingdom of God. "This is what I want you to do," said the still, yet recognizable voice of God.
Since then, Tico has set out to fulfill this great call of God on his life, winning souls through his music and dynamic performances, for the most part alongside a group that he founded in late 2000 on the campus of World Changers Church International - the legendary ’Ziklag Boys,’ who, before their retirement, garnered such honors as a Grammy and Stellar award nomination in 2005, as well as reportedly being the first gospel rap group to gain regular rotation on a secular station. Under Tico’s leadership, Ziklag traveled abroad (Virgin Islands, Chicago, Houston, New York, Indianapolis, etc.), receiving love and admiration by believers and non-believers alike (they were courted by the likes of BME, Lil’ Jon’s independent label and Stankonia - Outkast’s now defunct independent) while independently moving over 20,000 units internationally.
After the Ziklag era, Tico has worked diligently at developing his career as a producer, proving to be one of the hottest producers on the rise in 2006. He has gone on to win a Stellar Award in 2006 for his production work on "The Sequel," the LP release by Lil’ I Rocc (Authority/Whitaker) which earned two (2) Stellars, one being for ’Best Hip Hop/Rap Album of the Year.’ He also has produced work for renowned superstar producer, Dallas Austin, (TLC, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Boys II Men, Mariah Carey, etc.,), contributing to Dallas’ first gospel endeavor, Darlene McCoy, remixing the hit single, "Fallen In Love," which originally gained much attention and fanfare on the soundtrack to the blockbuster Tyler Perry big screen debut, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." He has also worked with other artists like Ghetto Mafia and EJ the Witchdoctor of the Dungeon Family.
After a much needed sabbatical dating from mid to late 2005, Tico has received instruction to get back to the business of doing damage to Satan’s stronghold in urban music and entertainment as a frontline ’souljah.
