With the end of the year nearing, it’s about that time that the best of best get their due recognition. By way of this year’s Soul Train Awards, comes the highly anticipated outcome of who will come out on top in R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Gospel and more.
Leading the way with five nominations is ‘Climax’ singer Usher. With two nods, R&B Soul crooner R. Kelly became the most nominated artist at the Soul Train Awards with a career total of 21. Other multiple category nominees include Beyonce, Estelle, Tyrese, Nas and John Legend. Gone but not forgotten, both Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse were nominated for awards. As for the Lifetime Achievement Award, with well due respect and rightfully being their time is New Edition.
This year’s awards show will take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Comedian/Actor Cedric the Entertainer will serve as host. The show will air on BET and Centric November 25th at 9pm EST.
Best New Artist
Elle Varner
Emeli Sande
J. Cole
Luke James
Robert Glasper
Centric Award
Daley
Esperanza Spalding
Gary Clark Jr.
Leah Labelle
Santigold
Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance
BeBe Winans- “America America”
Fred Hammond- “I Feel Good”
Marvin Sapp- “My Testimony”
Mary Mary- “Go Get It”
Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks- “Celebrate”
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
2 Chainz ft. Drake- “No Lie”
Wale ft. Miguel- “Lotus Flower Bomb”
Nas- “Daughters”
Kanye West ft. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – “Mercy”
Young Jeezy ft. Ne-Yo- “Leave You Alone”
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
Beyoncé
Estelle
Keyshia Cole
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Miguel
Robin Thicke
Trey Songz
Tyrese
Usher
Album of the Year
The One – Eric Benet
Channel Orange -Frank Ocean
Life Is Good -Nas
Write Me Back -R. Kelly
Looking For Myself -Usher
Song of the Year
Estelle- “Thank You”
John Legend ft. Ludacris- “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
Trey Songz- “Heart Attack”
Tyrese- “Stay”
Usher- “Climax”
Wale ft. Miguel- “Lotus Flower Bomb”
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“Thank You”-Estelle
(Writers: Arden Altino, Akene “The Champ” Dunkley, Jerry Duplessis, Doug F. Edwards, Thomas D. Richardson, Aliaune Thiam)
“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” -John Legend ft. Ludacris
(Writers: Allen Arthur, Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges, Keith Justice, Miguel Pimentel “Miguel”, (Writers: Clayton Reilly, John Stephens)
“Daughters”-Nas
(Writers: Nasir Jones, Ernest D. Wilson, Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, Paul Leka)
“Share My Love”-R. Kelly
(Writer: Robert Kelly)
“Climax” -Usher
(Writers: Usher Raymond IV, Sean “Redd Stylez” Fenton, Thomas “Diplo” Pentz, Ariel Rechtshaid)
Best Dance Performance
Beyoncé- “Love On Top”
Chris Brown- “Turn Up The Music”
Nicki Minaj- “Starships”
Rihanna- “Where Have You Been”
Usher- “Scream”
Best Caribbean Performance
Cover Drive – “Bajan Style”
Damien “Junior Gong” Marley- “SuperHeavy”
Jimmy Cliff- “Rebirth”
Matisyahu – “Spark Seeker”
Sean Paul – “Tomahawk Technique”
Best International Performance
Amy Winehouse- “Our Day Will Come”
Daley ft. Marsha Ambrosius- “Alone Together”
Emeli Sande- “Next To Me”
Estelle- “Thank You”
Gotye ft. Kimbra- “Somebody (That I Used To Know)”
Rebecca Ferguson- “Nothing’s Real But Love”
Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Chris Botti- Impressions
Kenny Garrett- Seeds From The Underground
Melody Gardot- The Absence
The Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio
Tony Bennett- Isn’t It Romantic
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group
Ben Tankard- Full Tank
Brian Culbertson- DREAMS
Cassandra Wilson- Another Country
Esperanza Spalding- Radio Music Society
Peter White- Here We Go
