After an absence of several years, the Soul Train Music Awards returned strong two years ago, and late last week, the nominees were announced for their 2011 ceremony, which will appear on the BET network on Sunday, November 27th. You’re not gonna find much in the way of unfamiliar names here.
Comeback king Chris Brown made out like a bandit on both the regular BET Awards and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He finds himself with the most nominations this year, scoring 5 nods. He’s followed by currently preggers Beyonce Knowles and her husband Jay-Z’s rhyming partner Kanye West. Those two scored 4 nominations, followed by blue-eyed soul queen Adele, pop diva Rihanna, and Beyonce’s former group-mate Kelly Rowland, each of whom nabbed three nominations. Surprised to see Adele getting love at the Soul Train awards? Consider the fact that her music is more legitimately soulful than just about any of the artists we’ve mentioned so far. “Rolling on the Deep” is also completing an impressive 20-week run on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart, FYI.
Legends getting honored on this year’s ceremony are the inimitable Earth, Wind & Fire and tenured diva Gladys Knight (who comes fresh off presenting Patti LaBelle with a similar lifetime achievement award at this year’s BET Awards). Cedric the Entertainer will host, and nominee Jill Scott is scheduled to perform on the show, in addition to STMA mainstay Robin Thicke.
You can bet your last money that not only will the show be a stone gas, honey, but we’re gonna be live blogging the hell out of the show. Keep your eyes peeled to this here site for more news.
Best New Artist
Bruno Mars
Marsha Ambrosius
Miguel
Frank Ocean
Best Male R&B/Soul Artist
Trey Songz
Chris Brown
Cee Lo Green
R. Kelly
Eric Benet
Miguel
Centric Award
Ledisi
Raphael Saddiq
Bilal
Anthony David
Aloe Blacc
Best Caribbean Performance
“Bend Over” — Machel Montano
“Man Down” — Rihanna
“Delilah” — Movado
“Wotless” — Kes the Band
“Summertime” — Vybz Kartel
Best Gospel Performance
“I Smile” — Kirk Franklin
“Walking” — Mary Mary
“Heaven Hear My Heart” — Trin-I-Tee 5:7
“I Believe” — James Fortune, featuring Shawn McLemore
“More” — Cece Winans
Album of the Year
“Passion, Pain & Pleasure,” Trey Songz
“21,” Adele
“F.A.M.E.,” Chris Brown
“Light of the Sun,” Jill Scott
“4,” Beyonce
“Watch the Throne,” Jay Z and Kanye West (The Throne)
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Moment for Life” — Nicki Minaj
“All of the Lights” — Kanye West
“Look at Me Now” — Chris Brown, featuring 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
Jill Scott
Mary J. Blige
Song of the Year
“So in Love” — Jill Scott, featuring Anthony Hamilton
“Motivation” — Kelly Rowland, featuring Lil Wayne
“Sure Thing” — Miguel
“Rolling in the Deep” — Adele
“She Ain’t You” — Chris Brown
“All of the Lights” — Kanye West
Record of the Year (The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award)
“Rolling in the Deep” — Adele
“Far Away” — Marsha Ambrosius
“Best Thing I Never Had” — Beyonce
“Good Man” — Raphael Saddiq
“Hold My Hand” (duet with Akon) — Michael Jackson
Best Dance Performance
“Motivation” — Kelly Rowland
“Only Girl (In the World)”/”What’s My Name” — Rihanna
“Run the World (Girls)” — Beyonce
“She Ain’t You” — Chris Brown
“Walking” — Mary Mary
“Pretty Girl Rock” — Keri Hilson