A 15-year-old Burmese refugee who has been speaking English for less than half his life and his 13-year-old friend from Albany’s South End are the winners of the sixth annual Grammy Foundation and MusiCares Teens Make Music Contest for their song “Fight,” about resisting drug and alcohol use. Listen to it here.

The award for Lee Reh and Rah-mene McDuffie, who record under the name Young Noble Gentlemen, comes with a prize package that includes $5,000 cash and tickets to the 58th annual Grammy Awards, being held Feb. 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“I’m overwhelmed,” say Reh.

“It still doesn’t seem really, but I’m still really excited because I know it is,” says McDuffie.

Because the duo won’t receive their cash prize until they go to Los Angeles, supporters have started an online campaign to raise $6,000 to pay for airfare, lodging and other expenses for the boys and those accompanying them. As of this afternoon more than $3,000 has been pledged.

See the Times Union tomorrow for the full story.