This year’s Soul Train Music Awards featured more performances than awards. Performers included The Time, Joe, Robin Thicke, Common, Marsha Ambrosius, Kenny Lattimore, Dave Hollister, Freddie Jackson, Gladys Knight, Mindless Behavior, Tamar Braxton, Chrisette Michele, Anthony Hamilton, BeBe Winans, Boney James, Mary Mary, Natalie Cole, Cee Lo Green, Melanie Fiona, Lloyd, Eric Benet and Joe. Plus, there was a Heavy D tribute featuring Doug E. Fresh, Goodie M.O.B., Naughty By Nature, Whodini, Big Daddy Kane and Kurtis Blow.
AWARD RESULTS (Winners in Green)
Best New Artist
Bruno Mars
Marsha Ambrosius
Miguel (Soulhead Pick)
Frank Ocean
Best Male R&B/Soul Artist
Trey Songz
Chris Brown
R. Kelly
Miguel
Cee Lo Green (Soulhead Pick)
Eric Benet
Best Caribbean Performance
Man Down – Rihanna
Summer Time – Vybz Kartel
Wotless – Kes The Band
Bend Over Machel Montano
Delilah Movado
Best Gospel Performance
I Smile Kirk Franklin (Soulhead Pick)
Walking Mary Mary
Heaven Hear My Heart Trin-I-Tee 5:7
I Believe James Fortune ft. Shawn McLemore
More Cece Winans
Album of the Year
21 – Adele
F.A.M.E – Chris Brown
4 – Beyonce
Passion Pain & Pleasure – Trey Songz
Light of the Sun – Jill Scott
Watch The Throne – Jay Z and Kanye West (Soulhead Pick)
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
Moment for Life Nicki Minaj (Soulhead Pick)
All of the Lights- Kanye West ft. Rihanna
Look at Me Now Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne
Out of My Head Lupe Fiasco
Otis – Jay Z and Kanye West
Best Female R&B/Soul Artist
Kelly Rowland
Beyonce
Marsha Ambrosius
Jennifer Hudson (Soulhead Pick)
Jill Scott
Mary J. Blige
Song of the Year
Motivation Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne
Sure Thing- Miguel
Rolling in the Deep Adele (Soulhead Pick)
She Aint You Chris Brown
All of the Lights Kanye West
So In Love Jill Scott ft. Anthony Hamilton
Record of the Year (The Ashford and Simpson Songwriters Award)
Rolling in the Deep Adele (Writers: Adele, Paul Epworth)
Far Away Marsha Ambrosius (Writers: Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms)
Best Thing I Never Had Beyonce (Writers: Antonio Dixon; Kenneth Edmonds; Larry Griffin, Jr.; Beyoncé Knowles; Caleb McCampbell; Patrick Smith; Shea Taylor) (Soulhead Pick)
Good Man Raphael Saddiq (Writers: Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson)
Hold My Hand (Duet with Akon) Michael Jackson (Writers: Aliaune Thiam (Akon), Giorgio Tuinfort, Claude Kelly)
Best Dance Performance
Motivation Kelly Rowland
Only Girl in the World/Whats My Name Rihanna (Soulhead Pick)
Run The World Beyonce
She Aint You Chris Brown
Walking Mary Mary
Pretty Girl Rock Keri Hilson
2011 Soul Train Award Legend Award Recipients
Gladys Knight
Earth Wind and Fire
Traditional Jazz*
In Concert On Broadway Harry Connick Jr.
James Farm- Eric Harland
Light My Fire- Eliane Elias
Silver Pony- Cassandra Wilson (Soulhead Pick)
Whats It All About Pat Metheny
Contemporary Jazz*
Contact Boney James
Hello Tomorrow Dave Koz
Rock-et Sci-ence - Bela Fleck
Lets Touch The Sky- Fourplay
Time Together- Michael Franks
Soulhead Results: 3 out of 11 (Oh well, better luck next year)