DANCEHALL deejay Khago’s Nah Sell Out came up big at the inaugural Vibes Link FM Awards at the Club Eclipse in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday.

Produced by Seanizzle on the One Day ‘riddim’, the track won the New Jersey-based radio station’s Most Popular Song for the Past Five Years Award.

“I’m surprised that mi win. It [the song] go up against some good tunes by some good artistes,” he told Splash.

The tunes to which Khago refers are Drinking Rum and Red Bull by Beenie Man and Future Fambo; Mavado’s Pepper; Popcaan’s Only Man She Want; and Cake Soap by incarcerated deejay Vybz Kartel.

“It only go fi show that when God send a special gift, no man can move it,” said Khago, who closed the awards show with a stellar performance. Other acts for the evening included Esco Levi and Shuga.

Last year, Khago — whose given name is Ricardo Gayle — won a Linkage Award in New York and was also nominated for a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) in the United Kingdom.

Mackoy Williams, event organiser and a principal of Vibes Link FM, said the awards dubbed ‘Di Oscars’ was his way of recognising persons for their efforts.

“We wanted to recognise the disc jocks on the radio station for their outstanding work, as well as the artistes who are popular in New Jersey,” said the Trelawny-born Williams.

He said New Jersey has a vibrant reggae scene and the awards function was one way of highlighting it.

“The show was a success. There were great performances and it was well organised. I’m looking forward to next year,” he said.

According to Williams, Vibes Link FM was started four years ago. Located in East Orange, New Jersey, the station employs over 30 peoples. Found on 96.1 on the FM band, it specialises in authentic Jamaican rock steady, reggae, gospel, and dancehall music.

The evening also saw Toronto-based reggae artiste Exco Levi receiving the Ambassador Award; Macka Diamond — Female Artiste of the Year; Kranium — Male Artiste of the Year; and Ragashanti named International was Radio Personality.

— Brian Bonitto