The Best and Worst of the Soul Train Music Awards

The Best and Worst of the Soul Train Music Awards is a blog post that looks at the highs and lows of the annual awards show.

Introduction

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show that honors the best in Black music and entertainment. The show is produced by the makers of the hit TV show, Soul Train, and features performances by the biggest names in R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, and more.

The awards are given out in a variety of categories, and this year’s show was no exception. Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards.

The Best

The best thing about the Soul Train Music Awards is that it celebrates black music and culture. This is a much-needed celebration in a time when the music industry is dominated by white artists. The Soul Train Music Awards also give recognition to up-and-coming artists, which is great for the future of black music.

Best R&B Performance

The best male R&B performance of the night went to Maxwell for “Lake by the Ocean.” The best female R&B performance was a tie between Beyoncé for “Freedom” and Solange for “Cranes in the Sky.”

Best Rap Performance

And the award for best rap performance goes to…

In a ceremony that was both moving and electrifying, the winners of the Soul Train Music Awards were announced last night. Among the most highly anticipated categories was Best Rap Performance, which went to none other than Kendrick Lamar for his track “Humble.”

Lamar’s win was especially significant because it marked the first time in the history of the Soul Train Music Awards that a rap performance has taken home the top prize. In fact, this year’s nominees in the category were all rap songs, which is a sign of how far hip-hop has come in recent years.

Other winners at last night’s awards show included Bruno Mars for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist, Beyoncé for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, and Khalid for Best New Artist.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

The best rap/sung collaboration went to Nipsey Hussle and Roddy Ricch for their track “Racks in the Middle.” The song, which is about the struggles and triumphs of the inner city, was a moving tribute to Hussle, who was tragically gunned down in Los Angeles last year. Ricch’s performance was flanked by a group of dancers who wore red jackets in honor of the fallen rapper.

Best Rap Song

This category was added in 1996, and ever since then, it has been one of the most popular categories at the awards. The award goes to the performers, not the songwriters, and it is given to the song that best represents “the soul of rap music.” Nominations are chosen by a panel of music industry experts.

The nominees for Best Rap Song at the Soul Train Music Awards are:

-“All the Way Up” by Fat Joe and Remy Ma featuring French Montana
-“I Got the Keys” by DJ Khaled featuring Jay Z and Future
-“No Problem” by Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz
-“One Call Away” by Charlie Puth

Best Rap Album

1) Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
2) The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
3) Doggystyle by Snoop Doggy Dogg
4) Illmatic by Nas
5) Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G.

The Worst

The Soul Train Music Awards have honored the best in Black music since 1987, but not every year has been a hit. Some years have been downright duds, with no standout performances or fashion moments to speak of. Here are some of the worst Soul Train Music Awards moments in history.

Worst Dressed

The Soul Train Awards are always a night for celebration, spectacular performances and of course, fashion! This year’s show did not disappoint, with attendees turning up in their best looks to walk the red carpet. While there were plenty of gorgeous gowns and sharp tuxedos on display, there were also a few questionable fashion choices. Here are our picks for the best and worst dressed celebrities at the Soul Train Awards.

Worst Dressed:
-Amber Rose:Rose wore a revealing sheer black dress that left little to the imagination. While she looked great in the body-hugging gown, the cut-outs and sheer panels were a bit too racy for a formal awards show.
-Kylie Jenner:Jenner’s mint green satin gown was pretty in theory, but the fit was all wrong. The dress was loose and baggy on Jenner, who is usually one of the best-dressed celebrities on any red carpet.
-Teyana Taylor:Taylor decided to forgo a dress altogether, opting instead for a pair of high-waisted black satin pants with a plunging neckline. The outfit would have been fine if it had been styled differently, but the crop top and heels were just too much.

Best Dressed:
-Naturi Naughton: Naughton looked beautiful in a white strapless mermaid gown with a train. The fitted bodice and flowing skirt hugged all of her curves in all the right ways.
-Mindy Kaling:Kaling brought some much needed color to the red carpet in a bright pink sleeveless dress. The simple silhouette allowed Kaling’s vibrant personality to shine through.
-Keke Palmer:Palmer stunned in a form-fitting black leather dress with gold accents. The edgy yet elegant look was both unique and stylish.

Worst Performance

The award for worst performance goes to Bobby Brown and his band New Edition. Brown appeared to be lip syncing, and the band was visibly out of sync with the music. The end result was a sloppy, lackluster performance that was met with boos from the audience.

Worst Album

With that being said, the clear winner for worst album goes to…drumroll please…Chris Brown’s “Royalty” album! I mean come on, this was easily one of the weakest albums of 2015 and it pains me to even have to speak its name.

Worst Song

There are always a few stinkers at the awards show, but this year’s Soul Train Music Awards was pretty good overall. The Worst Song goes to…*drumroll please*…Chris Brown and Usher for their track “New Flame.” The R&B track is pretty bland, and it’s just not special enough to be nominated for an award, let alone win one.

Conclusion

All in all, the Soul Train Music Awards were a great success. We loved seeing all of the amazing performances and can’t wait to see what next year has in store. Be sure to tune in so you don’t miss a minute of the action!