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Koby Shimoni has all the trappings of a traditional rap/hip-hop artist - baggy designer jogging suits, scruffy hair, an unshaven face and a seemingly tough attitude. But unlike his counterparts in the US, Shimoni, a.k.a Subliminal, sends a very different message.
Whereas US rap artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube and Sean "Puffy" Combs have come under fire for vulgar lyrics that condone drugs and violence, Israel's biggest rap star to date is about unabashed purism and Zionist fervor. "I am adamantly against drugs, for the army and against anyone who bashes Israel," says the Tel Aviv resident quite matter-of-factly.
"There were always people who used to laugh at me because I fast on Yom Kippur, and I separate milk and meat. On Independence Day, I celebrate Israel's existence - in northern Tel Aviv. This should never be considered shameful," he adds.
Subliminal is performing tonight, as part of the first-ever Israeli Hip-Hop Festival, at 7 at the Wohl Amphitheater in Tel Aviv. The line-up also includes the rap/hip-hop band Hadag Nahash, new rap group Boyaka, Muki and Piloni and the successful Fishy Hagadol. DJs will also grace the stage, including Uri Shohet, Alarm and 77.
This colorful array of a new-wave Israeli...