VIDEO: Lacey Rapper Performs Shout Down Drugs Song at Committee Meeting

Lacey Township High School Senior Nicholas Alu performed at Thursday’s Township Committee meeting.

Alu recently won the  with the song. The eighth annual concert, which challenges high school students to create original music and lyrics that contain powerful peer-to-peer drug prevention messages, was held on Thursday, May 24. 

The lyrics of Alu’s songs come from his own experiences with drugs and their impact on his life. 

"The chorus is me just saying you're worth more than that, you're not perfect, everyone makes mistakes," Alu previously said. "There's no point throwing your life away."

Songs sang by selected contestants were judged by a panel of law enforcement and peer leaders. The three top winners share $10,000 in music contracts with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and will be paid for performing their winning songs at state wide events. Alu recently performed in Atlantic City.

Alu’s participation in the competition was an initiative of the Municipal Alliance’s Task Force, a partnership between different organizations and individuals throughout the town to fight against drug and alcohol abuse, Committeeman Dave Most said.

“It just goes to show you some of the things we’re going to be producing in our community,” Most said.

The Task Force is made up of leaders from the township, school district, police department, religious leaders and businesspeople. Currently, the group is considering holding a seminar on drug addiction issues in the community as well as establishing a prescription drop off box, Most said.

“We’re being very proactive in the community and it’s just great to have all that leadership combined as we can network and share a lot together,” he said.

Committeeman Gary Quinn recently sat in on a Task Force meeting and said he was very impressed to see how aggressive the group is being.

“I think as we move forward, it’s going to be very successful,” he said.

The Municipal Alliance will be attending the Governor’s Council Conference with more than 400 Municipal Alliances throughout the state, where Alu will perform.

"We will be so proud to have Lacey Township the winner this year. We’re so proud of not only you but your message,” Municipal Alliance Coordinator Heather Scanlon said.

Quinn found Alu “very entertaining,” he said.

“Entertaining, at the same time putting out a very important message to kids in the community, all the folks in the community, pretty much everybody,” he said. “Music really hits home for a lot of different groups.”

Alu’s lyrics to “Use Your Voice” are as follows:

Yo , Listen
Let me see ya stand up ,with ya hands up
If you’re willing to say that you’re not perfect
Let me see ya stand up with ya hands up if you
know that you are worth it
Let me see ya stand up
with ya hands up
point your fingers to the sky
use your voice to make a choice
yeah we shouting down drugs tonight 

Well I know that nobody is perfect
But doesn't mean , that nobody is worth it
People get lost in drugs, they still searching
All because their lives got caught up in the circus
My message clear, I hope everybody hears it
death is forever, so it's okay to fear it
So stay away from drugs, don’t listen to ya peers
who are they gonna be in a couple years?
Listen I ain’t just here to lecture kids
Life is precious, so what’s the point in testing it
Kids you will never make a greatest hit
laying dead in a box with ya eyelids stiff
Every day that we live is a blessing
Every kid who dies young is a lesson
I know that it's hard to say no to the pressure
but your trading ya life for a moment of pleasure
So do right now, not the day after
I could be your friend, a guide or ya pastor
Drugs only equal a negative reaction
Keep your life's story long, cause you got a lot of chapters
listen I've been there
I know how it ends
lung problems and
losing some friends
doesn’t feel good to be
coughing again
I’m telling you
it doesn’t pay off in the end
So with no hesitation, look temptation
in the face
stand tough
man up
throw ya hands up
and stand up! 

Let me see ya stand up, with ya hands up
If you’re willing to say that you’re not perfect
Let me see ya stand up with ya hands up if you
know that you are worth it
Let me see ya stand up
with ya hands up
point your fingers to the sky
use your voice to make a choice
yeah we shouting down drugs tonight
Let me see ya stand up
with ya hands up
point your fingers to the sky
use your voice to make a choice
yeah we shouting down drugs tonight

Listen to what I got to be showin
hope you knowing your goals
will be going, every shot you'll be blowing
by smoking or snorting,
while you're bragging and showing
you'll be going in a moment’s notice
until you’re looking at that guy in the mirror
cant even say that ya know him
You dealing to make some money in ya pocket?
So if your doing drugs, do yourself a favor stop it
I’m just tryna make sure you don’t get locked up
Cant shout down drugs when ya lungs blocked up
Nicotine makes you an addictive feind
Weed, make ya eat, sleep and make ya lungs bleed
Cocain puts holes in a brain makes ya paranoid
pimples on ya face, untamed raged from ya steroids
Heroine really makes ya life ruined
How do you know that one time is the last time you'll do it
I’m just not talking about being on the street a lot
referring to the first time when ya heart beat stops
Nick Nubz has
no love for drugs
no reason for the contraband I see
demand you to cease
so please
Stand up with ya hands up
and make a stand with me 

Let me see ya stand Up, with ya hands up
If you’re willing to say that you’re not perfect
Let me see ya stand up with ya hands up if you
know that you are worth it
Let me see ya stand up
with ya hands up
point your fingers to the sky
use your voice to make a choice
yeah we shouting down drugs tonight