Inner-city youth at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Youth Activities League (YAL) in Compton, California, were actively involved in the filming of Khul Rhema’s new music video this month as dancers, crew members, and even assistant directors.

“We hoped to serve as an encouragement to the youth by getting them actively involved in the filming of the video, and by exposing them to the quality, entertainment, ministry, and message of Christian hip-hop, as opposed to the negative influences in the city of Compton that are glorified on their televisions daily,” says Gozpul Music Group Managing Director Kevin Wilson. Khul Rhema is signed to Los Angeles-based Gozpul Music Group, which is headed by “Big Earl” Franklin and Terry “Did’um” Bolen.

Deputy Rafer A. Owens of the Compton Station community relations department says, “Big Earl is a dynamic person and minister. We are very excited with what Gozpul Music Group and Khul Rhema is doing in the community and at our Youth Athletic League. Faith-based involvement is definitely needed and encouraged in the City of Compton.”

The director of the music video, which was filmed for the song Grindin’ off Khul Rhema’s debut solo album What The World Needs Now, was Judi “Sketch” Lewinson from the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Award winning show Hip Hop Harry. Some of the dancers in the video were also featured in the 2005 Lionsgate film “Rize”, which is about inner city youth using dance as a means of escape. The video features Khul Rhema as a struggling Ultimate Fighter, who trains to fight against the seven deadly sins.

Tico Hudson, a.k.a. Khul Rhema [pronounced ‘kool ray-mah’], the founding member of the GRAMMY®-nominated group Ziklag Boyz, says Grindin’ is a song that aptly expresses his desire to please God with his life and ministry. “Grinding, to me, means ‘diligently working.’ Faith without works is dead. So even though I can’t earn my way into heaven by my works, I know that my faith-in-motion pleases God.” Rhema says he is honest in the song about some of the sins God has delivered him from, and cites his salvation as the main reason why he is sold out for God.

What The World Needs Now will be available at Canadian Christian retail on July 3rd. For more information on Khul Rhema and to hear audio clips from the album, visit his YMZ artist page.