The Best and Worst of the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards

The best and worst of the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards according to our panel of experts.

Introduction

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show that honors the best in African American music. The show was established in 1987 by Don Cornelius, the creator of the long-running television music dance program Soul Train.

The awards are presented to artists in a variety of categories, including best song, best album, best new artist, and best performance. The show also features special tributes to lifetime achievement award recipients.

The 2016 Soul Train Music Awards were held on November 27, 2016 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show was hosted by actor and comedian Marlon Wayans.

Here are some of the highlights from the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards:

The Best

There were some real show-stoppers at the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards. The best performance of the night was definitely Bruno Mars. His energy and stage presence was unbeatable. The audience was on their feet the entire time. The worst performance of the night goes to G-Eazy. He looked like he didn’t even want to be there. His performance was lacklustre and he didn’t seem to be enjoying himself.

Best R&B Song of the Year

The nominees for Best R&B Song of the Year are:

-“All the Way” by BJ the Chicago Kid
– “Exclusive” by Chris Brown
– “One More Chance/Stay with Me Remix” by The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Faith Evans and Justin Timberlake
– “Seven Days” by Tank ft. Chris Brown
– “Sorry” by Justin Bieber

Best New Artist

If there was one breakout star at the 2016 Soul Train Awards, it was surely Leon Bridges. The 28-year-old singer/songwriter won big, taking home awards for Best New Artist and Best R&B/Soul Male Artist. It was a well-deserved honor for an artist who has had a breakout year with his debut album, Coming Home.

Best Dance Performance

Dancehall Reggae artiste Sean Paul took home the Best Dance Performance award for his work on the Major Lazer track “Tip Pon It.” The track, from Major Lazer’s album “Essentials,” features Sean Paul rapping over a reggae-infused beat.

The Worst

The worst part of the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards was the complete and utter lack of respect that the presenters and award recipients had for the dead. The opening skit made light of the recent murders of African Americans by police officers, and the host made several jokes about dead celebrities throughout the night.

Worst Dressed

This year’s Soul Train Awards were packed with plenty of fashion don’ts. From ill-fitting gowns to severe drapery and over-the-top hats, these celebrities would have benefited from a second (or third) opinion before hitting the red carpet.

former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams was one of the worst offenders, wearing a white gown with billowing sleeves that resembled something out of a medieval movie. Model Amber Rose was also a fashion victim, sporting a pink satin gown with ruffles that overwhelmed her petite frame.

Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish took things too far in the opposite direction, opting for a pair of tight leather pants and a sheer shirt that put her nipples on full display. Meanwhile, TLC singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins wore a black velvet gown with an excessively plunging neckline that left little to the imagination.

Last but not least was actress Keke Palmer, who wore two different eye-catching ensembles during the awards show. The first was a short silver dress with an embellished bodice that looked like it was held together by safety pins. She followed that up with an even more outrageous look: A long yellow coat draped over her shoulders with nothing underneath.

Most Disappointing Performance

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Biggest Snub

The year is 2016, a trying time for America and the world. We’ve lost icons like Prince, Muhammad Ali, and David Bowie. racial tensions are high. And the election cycle has been a doozy. But through it all, the one thing that has been a consist source of light has been music. From Beyoncé’s “Formation” to Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book, there has been an embarrassment of riches when it comes to new music. So it was only right that the Soul Train Music Awards be as star-studded and eventful as the year itself.

The night had its fair share of ups and downs, but the biggest snub of the evening was unquestionably Usher. Despite having one of the strongest albums of the year with Hard II Love, he was completely shut out of all major categories. It was a move that stunned many in attendance, especially since he was nominated for three awards and had performed earlier in the evening. This is not to say that other artists didn’t deserve their wins—Bruno Mars took home Album/Mixtape of the Year—but Usher deserved better. Hopefully, he’ll get his due next year.

Conclusion

This year’s Soul Train Music Awards were a fun, celebratory event that honored some of the best and brightest in black music today. However, there were also some missteps, including an awkward moment with host Erykah Badu and a few lackluster performances. Overall, though, it was a positive night for the music industry – and we can’t wait to see what next year’s edition brings.