The Best and Worst of the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards

The 1993 Soul Train Music Awards were held on February 27, 1993, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. This was the first year the awards were televised live.

The Best

The best performances of the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards included Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, and Boyz II Men. Michael Jackson’s performance of “Heal the World” was a moving tribute to the young lives lost in the Los Angeles riots earlier that year. Janet Jackson’s medley of hits was a high-energy way to start the show. Luther Vandross brought the house down with his emotional performance of ” power of love/love power”. Whitney Houston brought the crowd to their feet with her show-stopping performance of “I Will Always Love You”. Boyz II Men brought the evening to a close with their beautiful performance of “End of the Road”.

Best R&B Male Vocalist – Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross was once again nominated for Best R&B Male Vocalist, but this time he went head to head with the reigning king of R&B, Bobby Brown. Although Vandross had won the previous year, Brown took home the award in 1993.

Best R&B Female Vocalist – Whitney Houston

In 1993, the Soul Train Music Awards were dominated by Whitney Houston, who won a total of four awards, including Best R&B Female Vocalist. She beat out some stiff competition, including Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who was nominated for her work with TLC, and Janet Jackson, who was nominated for her album “janet.”

Best R&B Group – Boyz II Men

It’s no surprise that Boyz II Men took home the award for Best R&B Group at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards – they were, after all, one of the most successful R&B groups of all time. Formed in Philadelphia in 1988, the group originally consisted of Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Michael McCary. They went on to release a string of hit albums and singles, including “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love to You”, both of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Boyz II Men were hugely successful both commercially and critically, winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling over 60 million records worldwide.

The Worst

It was the year of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Aaliyah, Wu-Tang Clan, and more, but it was also the year of the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. The show was hosted by Queen Latifah and featured some of the biggest names in music. Unfortunately, it was also a bit of a disaster.

Worst Dressed Male – Michael Jackson

It should come as no surprise that the King of Pop would take the prize for Worst Dressed Male at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. Jackson was known for his eccentric style, and this outfit is no exception. From the sequined glove to the military-style jacket with all the medals, this outfit is a mess.

Worst Dressed Female – Madonna

The Worst – Madonna
While it’s no surprise that Madonna is on this list, it is a surprise that she was nominated for an award in the first place. For the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards, she showed up wearing a tacky, see-through gown that did little to flatter her already petite frame.

Most Annoying Trend – Gangsta Rap

In 1993, the Soul Train Music Awards added a new category – Most Annoying Trend. And the winner was… gangsta rap. It’s no surprise that this controversial subgenre of hip hop would take home the prize, considering the backlash it was receiving from many in the music industry and beyond.

While some artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg would go on to have successful careers, others like N.W.A. were already on their way out by the time the awards were handed out. But regardless of their individual success, gangsta rap as a whole was seen as a problem by many – too violent, too misogynistic, too disrespectful.

In retrospect, it’s easy to see why gangsta rap would eventually fall out of favor (though it has experienced something of a resurgence in recent years). But at the time, it was a controversial and polarizing force in music, and its impact is still felt today.