For one New York City rapper, being nominated for two Underground Music Awards is a chance of a lifetime. Twenty-three-year-old Bronx native Buddy Mylez first heard about the web-site through Bermudian Twanee Butterfield’s www.hi5.com page. “She told me to check out her music on the page. At first I was like ‘oh that’s cool that Bermuda has a hip hop scene’.

“I never thought they would let me on it because I thought it was strictly Bermuda. Then I saw ‘Littles’ on there from Canada and someone else from New York and I said guess they do endorse international artists. So, I contacted JT, sent him music and the rest is history.”

Last year, the Advertising Design and Graphic Arts student won two awards — best rap artist and the LA Virgil Artist of the Year but was unable to make the trip.

Buddy said: “JT was trying to get me out there but I don’t know what happened. So I was grateful for the fact that I was being acknowledged, grateful for the honours. Then he told me I had won. He made it up to New York and personally gave me the awards. Then we was like we definitely have to get me there this year.”

At the show, Buddy will be in the house performing with his team, BXL consisting of Joe Dirt, Persevere and himself.

He said he is looking forward to visiting the Island for the first time and spending time with some of his Bermudian friends he met in school at Andrews University in Michigan.

“As you know I have people out there in Bermuda, so this trip is a long time coming. I’m excited that I can go, finally visit Bermuda and the same time go and do the awards.

“I’m performing — this is a chance of a lifetime, even if I don’t win an award, which I doubt, I get to make it out there, see what the whole thing is about and mingle with the Bermudian people.”

When asked about the main difference between the underground industry in Bermuda and New York, Buddy quickly said it was the opportunity artists have in Bermuda.

“I would have to say the competition, the line of people doing it,” he said. “Bermudians, they have a great opportunity. Bermuda being such a fertile market when it comes to rap is a great opportunity for local artists to make it.

“I hear everyone is rapping, everybody’s trying to get a record deal. I have an advantage because of the out-of-town movement, getting attention outside of New York.

“The biggest difference is there is a whole lot more people doing it over here than over there. It’s open for the taking over there in Bermuda”

Buddy is nominated for song of the year, best freestyle and LA Virgil Artist of the Year.