Sweet, young Antithesis. The self-described Zionist rapper is smart enough to attend Cambridge, and to understand the irony of his chosen musical outlet (hence the name). His first EP, “The Israel Question,” contains four songs about Israel, ranging from a personal Zionist anthem, to a story song about victims of terror, to pleas for peace and for the return of the country’s kidnapped soldiers. Four instrumental versions are also included, with all the profits received from the disc going to the campaign to secure information regarding the return of Israel’s Missing in Action Soldiers and the UJIA Terror Victims Support Fund. $14.99. www.antithesismc.com.

Forget Ali G… Cambridge University has produced another white, middle-class Jewish boy intent on shattering stereotypes, writes Jemma Wayne.

Samuel Green — aka “Antithesis,” the Zionist Rapper” — has released a debut album of emotionally charged songs entitled “The Israel Question.”

The four-track CD, released last month, contains three songs dealing with the problems Israel is facing today and a fourth about his own desire to make aliyah.

Included on the album is Antithesis’s popular underground 2002 single “Ima Mechaka Babayit” (Mother is Waiting at Home), — a plea for the return of kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

Mr Green, a member of FZY’s national executive, explained that, angered by media coverage of Israel, he had wanted to give the public a new, young and proud vision.

He told Campus: “A lot of people don’t know that much about the issues facing Israel. I want to raise awareness and spread a positive pro-Israel message.”

However, the Oriental Studies student is not yet sure quite how far he wants the message to spread. “Initially I’m targeting my music at the Jewish community and am hoping to galvanise them into action.”

“Long-term, I would like to take the message to the general public, but I’m worried that it would get twisted somehow.”

Mr Green is, meanwhile, hoping to raise a target of at least £8,000 from record sales, to be split between the campaign for the return of Israel’s MIAs and the UJIA Terror Victims Support Fund.

So far, sales — at some 350 — have exceeded expectations.

“People who have never listened to rap music before, have told me that they like it,” Mr Green said.

“Most of my following comes from the Jewish community here and in Israel, but people from the United States and the Slovak Republic have been ordering the CD as well.”

CDs can be purchased via the website: www.antithesismc.com

SAMUEL Green’s mother, Hazel, wasn’t too pleased when he started listening to rap music. But she is more than happy to support his endeavours to become… a rapper.

Londoner Samuel has reinvented himself as Antithesis – The Jewish Rapper and has just released an eight-track CD called The Israel Question.

Samuel, 20, had been writing short raps since he was 15, but his first serious song, Just Peace, was written three years ago for an FZY song contest.

Just Peace, the lead track on The Israel Question, came third because the judges were looking for a more commercial song.

After leaving school, Samuel took a gap year in Israel on FZY’s Machon L’Madrichei Chul programme. Whilst still in England he heard a talk by Chaim Avraham, the father of one of Israel’s Missing in Action soldiers and, after hearing him speak again in Israel, he wrote Ima Mechaka Babayit (Mother is Waiting at Home).

Samuel entered a talent contest with the track – and won. As a result he was introduced to Mr Avraham who asked him to record the song for charity.

”I became Antithesis in 2001,” Samuel said. ”It was a bit of fun. I had dreams of being famous. A friend came up with the name because rappers are normally black and from the ghettoes, whilst I’m a middle class white Jewish boy.”

Ima Mechaka Babayit was recorded with guitarist Neil Levene and Teddy Leifer on bongos.

Samuel said: ”The CD sold well without much marketing and no artwork. It gave me inspiration to carry on.”

Profits from the new CD are being split between the campaign to secure the release of Israel’s Missing in Action Soldiers and the UJIA Terror Victims Support Fund.

Samuel, who is currently reading Oriental Studies at the University of Cambridge, is hoping in the future to collaborate with Wu Tan Clan member Remedy, who recently visited Israel.

”We had a brief email correspondence over the summer,” he said, ”and a friend of mine is trying to bring him over to England. I’d also like to work with Israeli rapper Subliminal, although at the moment I’m concentrating on my degree.”

Last month, Japanese and Hebrew-speaking Samuel performed at the Limmud conference whilst he has also rapped for J-Socs and opened Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations in Tzfat.

Samuel, whose grandfather is from Salford, has a sister Hannah, currently on tour in Israel with FZY.

The Israel Question is available from www.antithesismc.com