Although Tha Underground Music Awards started a bit late ? when it finally got going it was with a bang after international recording artiste Donna Cousins invited co-host Nadanja Bailey, who was late, onto the stage in his pink boxers and socks.

The pair kept the audience laughing and informed throughout the event at Ruth Seaton james Auditorium and Jonathan (JT) Talbot, couldn?t have chosen a better pair for keeping things live and direct.

The first performance on Saturday night was by New York act Malik Spence, who came to the stage in pure preppy gear, singing his single You Could Be Mine. He got the audience involved by screaming, ?Put your hands up! Put your hands up!?

Singer Gita Blakeney presented the Award for the Best Female Vocalist, which went to Joy Barnum and the audience loved the fact that she was chosen. She said: ?Thank you so much, you guys are so awesome at Tha Underground.?

Presenting the award for the Best New Artist was Miss Teen Bermuda Islands Alneisha Outerbridge. The winner for this award was Malik Spence.

?First I have to thank God, my family and my music family for supporting me with my song You Should be My Number One,? said Mr. Spence.

Unit? managing director Belcario Thomas and Miss T presented the award for Best Collaboration. The award went to Loc Tight.

Loc Tight thanked everybody, his family and God for giving him strength to continue.

Joy Barnum stepped onto the stage in a Chinese shift dress and performed Lazy Sunday With You, a jazzy styled track, with fellow artist Versatile who added touches of rap.

Malik Spence also picked up the award for Best R&B Song.

ZBM?s John Godina and news reporter Alia Hamza presented the award for Best DJ to Vybez Alliance.

After thanking all of his crew, he said: ?All the DJs and artists, this is for you, because there is no such thing as a DJ without artists.

?I also want to thank Tha Underground for even having something like this here, because the only time the young people get on the front page of The (Royal) Gazette is when they are dead or in trouble.?

Roddy Nesbitt and Wendell (Shine) Hayward presented Prodigal with the award for Best Producer. Singer Twan?e Butterfield and Loc Tight presented the award for Best Disc Track.

ZBM?s Power Girl said that Bermuda has so much talent and that the Island could produce artistes like Beyonce and Sean Paul, as she presented the Brian Talbot Lifetime Achievement Award to Gina Spence-Farmer.

After detailing her personal challenges and triumphs, she said: ?I could have been a very angry black female and I could have used any excuse in the book, but God had my back.?

She thanked Mr. Talbot for his work at Tha Underground. And people like ZBM general manager Rick Richardson and Darlene Ming, who she said, ?were hard?. But it gave her the foundation to achieve many of her goals.

Miss Cousins performed a ballad while waiting for the winning card for the Best Rap Artist, which went to False Proph. The artist was not on hand to receive his award.

The Song of the Year Award went to Bermudian reggae artiste Collie Buddz, who unfortunately was off-Island.

High energy reggae/dancehall performances from Tiny T, Rejon (Blac) Tucker, and Ninja Cutty followed.

Miss Cousins made a very important point by saying: ?In the UK they don?t recognise artistes until they have sold 100,000 to 200,000 records, so Bermuda big yourselves up for Tha Underground Music Awards.?

Chewstick?s Gavin Smith presented the award for the Best Dancehall Reggae Song. The winner in this category was Collie Buddz.

The award for Best Rap Artist was presented by Joy Barnum and Versatile. It went to Buddy Mal, who was not at the Awards.

Chicago artist Tightest then performed Come Back to My World for the audience, as he tossed out CDs.

The L.A. Virgil Award was presented to Buddy Mylez, by the award?s namesake. The artist was not available to pick up his award, but Ms Virgil said: ?I think that you all should give yourselves a round of applause for even coming out and supporting.?

Twan?e Butterfield then graced the stage and Tyrone Iris performed as well.

The People?s Choice Award went to Rejon (Blac) Tucker, although by then the artist had left the building and his younger brother Ian accepted the award on his behalf.

Nandaja also informed the audience that he will be performing on Jamie Foxx LaffaPaLooza this weekend in Atlanta.

The event was closed by a huge performance of Loc Tight.

All in all Tha Underground Music Awards was a hugely comedic event and I look forward to seeing more presenters, artists and supporters of up-and-coming artists in attendance.