Newport News Shipbuilding releases rap safety video

Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg ... Alfred "AJ" Flythe?

Newport News Shipbuilding released a new music video that features Flythe's rap tune - "Safety First" - which beat 24 other entries in a contest sponsored by the shipyard over the summer.

"The safety song contest provided a great opportunity for me to combine two of my passions: singing and shipbuilding," said Flythe, 26, an aspiring rapper and second-shift shipfitter who's worked in the shipyard for two years.

You can hear his song online at www.huntingtoningalls.com/nns/safety, along with a sampling of other entries, with such titles as "Responsible," "Don't Get Burned" and "Everybody Makes it Home."

The winner, chosen by shipyard employees who voted online, picked up $1,000 and the production of a music video featuring his rap, made on location at the shipyard by a company videographer.

"Our jobs can be dangerous if we don't put safety first. I considered all of the different environments in the yard when I wrote the lyrics," Flythe said. "I'm excited that my song will serve as a reminder to my co-workers that knowing all of the different safety factors that come into play is important."

Yo.