A teenage rapper from south west London is making his mark on the Israeli music scene with a song dedicated to the soldiers still missing in action (MIA).

Samuel Green, who performs under the name Antithesis, was inspired to write Ima Mechaka Babayit [Mother's Waiting At Home] after hearing a speech by Chaim Avraham, the father of an MIA.

The 18-year-old, who is currently spending a year in Israel with the Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY), said: “I was very moved by what he said and was spurred into action”.

He added: “The song is about the history of the MIA situation, my frustration at the lack of information proffered by the captors and the lack of active support from the rest of the world.

“It is a plea to people to try and get influential members of society to support the cause”.

Ima Mechaka Babayit was first performed at a talent show and has since been recorded for a compilation CD dedicated to the MIAs.

The former City of London student said: “One of FZY’s four aims is Magen – the defence of Jewish rights. I see my song as a way of putting this aim into action”.

Samuel, from Kingston, will be returning to the UK later this year to study Japanese at Cambridge University.

He says he chose his stage name because he is white, middle class and Jewish, “the antithesis of the stereotypical rapper”.

Reflecting on her son’s achievement, Samuel’s mother Hazel said: “Personally, I never had much time for Samuel’s passion for hip hop and rap, but I am thrilled that he has utilised this genre to further such a worthwhile cause”.

British rapper Antithesis, a.k.a. 18-year-old Samuel Green, recorded a song in Jerusalem last week which will feature on a compilation CD about Israeli MIAs.

Antithesis, who is mid-way through a year program in Israel with the Federation of Zionist Youth, penned “Ima Mechaka Babayit” (”Mother’s Waiting at Home”) after hearing a speech by Chaim Avraham, father of kidnapped soldier Benny Avraham, who has since been declared dead by authorities.

Antithesis told Anglo File he hopes the record will inspire people to call on world leaders to press for more information about the Israeli MIAs and to offer support to the families affected. Antithesis chose his rapping name because he is “the antithesis of the stereotypical rapper,” as he is white, middle-class and Jewish. (This never stopped the Beastie Boys.)