TOP urban music stars such as Sean Paul, Sway and Kano have backed a campaign to educate young people about sexual health.

Young people in Nottingham have produced a film and an album of original material in the Beats and Brains 2 project. Tributes and "shout outs" to accompany the campaign have been recorded by Paul, Sway and Kano.

Rob Green, from Gedling, who has just turned 20, is one of the team who has written and performed on the album.

"When I heard that artists such as Sean Paul, Kano and Sway had recorded tributes after hearing our tracks, I just couldn't believe it," he said.

"I just thought things are serious now, we're in the big league.

"And at the heart of the music is the message that having a responsible sexual relationship is vital.

"This project has given me the chance to record in a studio for the first time and I hope my music career can take off from this."

Kennedy Banton, 16, from St Ann's, a drama student at New College Nottingham, plays the lead role in the film and has since auditioned for a Shane Meadows film.

"We hope that young people will get the message to always take precautions," Kennedy said.

"My character has an eye for the ladies but I hope that people learn from his mistakes.

"We're all very excited about the film being shown around schools and youth clubs in Nottingham and it also helped inspire me to become an actor, like Will Smith, who's a role model of mine."

Coordinated by Nottingham City Youth Services, the project is backed by almost £30,000 from the Government.

Working with the city's contraception and sexual health services, more than 5,000 copies of the film and album will be distributed to schools, youth clubs and sexual health clinics.

Randy Washington, 15, from Sherwood, also acted in the film.

"It's really inspired me, improved my confidence and I hope I can go on to be an actor, like my namesake Denzel Washington," he said.

"I hope people see the film and think about sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy.

"You can't just sleep around without consequences."

Djanogly City Academy Nottingham student Randy is studying the creative media diploma and also attends NCN's Clarendon campus one day a week.

Young people worked with award-winning local film makers Fourmost Films to help make the film.

It is called Trust Me and was shot in Nottingham's city centre last year.

The new album features emerging local talent working with established music producers such as Nottingham's Joe Buhdha.

Joe also got together with Nottingham-born Radio One DJ, MistaJam, to invite help from some of the top names in hip hop, reggae and rap.

Joe said: "It's important that we get positive sexual health messages out there from young people to young people."

About £30,000 was awarded from the Youth Opportunity Fund and Mediabox, a Government-backed organisation that helps disadvantaged 13 to 19-year-olds create media projects.

Coun David Mellen, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for children's services, said: "This project follows the success of last year's Beats and Brains project and shows again the talent and commitment in Nottingham's young people. It will help all the young people who see it to think through the consequences of thoughtless sexual behaviour."

michael.greenwell@ notinghameveningpost.co.uk