2012 Soul Train Music Awards
# 2012 Soul Train Music Awards

The 2012 Soul Train Music Awards were held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25, 2012. The show was hosted by actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer. Performers included New Edition, Miguel, Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, Tyrese, Elle Varner, John Legend, 2 Chainz, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Levert, Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, and Marcus Canty. The evening also featured a tribute to the late Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.

## Special awards

### Lifetime Achievement Award

* New Edition

## Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold text.

### Album of the Year

* Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
   * Eric Benét – The One
   * R. Kelly – Write Me Back
   * Nas – Life is Good
   * Usher – Looking 4 Myself

### Song of the Year

* Tyrese – "Stay"
   * Estelle – "Thank You"
   * John Legend (featuring Ludacris) – "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
   * Trey Songz – "Heart Attack"
   * Usher – "Climax"
   * Wale (featuring Miguel) – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

### The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award

* John Legend (featuring Ludacris) – "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
   * Written by: Allen Arthur, Christopher Bridges, Keith Justice, Miguel Pimentel, Clayton Reilly and John Stephens
* Estelle – "Thank You"
   * Written by: Arden Altino, Akene Dunkley, Jerry Duplessis, Doug F. Edwards, Thomas D. Richardson and Aliaune Thiam
* R. Kelly – "Share My Love"
   * Written by: Robert Kelly
* Nas – "Daughters"
   * Written by: Nasir Jones, Ernest D. Wilson, Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka
* Usher – "Climax"
   * Written by: Usher Raymond IV, Sean Fenton, Thomas Pentz and Ariel Rechtshaid

### Best R&B/Soul Male Artist

* Miguel
   * Trey Songz
   * Robin Thicke
   * Tyrese
   * Usher

### Best R&B/Soul Female Artist

* Beyoncé
   * Mary J. Blige
   * Keyshia Cole
   * Estelle
   * Fantasia
   * Rihanna
   * Elle Varner

### Best New Artist

* Elle Varner
   * Robert Glasper
   * J. Cole
   * Luke James
   * Emeli Sandé

### Centric Award

* Leah LaBelle
   * Gary Clark, Jr.
   * Daley
   * Santigold
   * Esperanza Spalding
   * Rihanna

### Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year

* Kanye West (featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz) – "Mercy"
   * 2 Chainz (featuring Drake) – "No Lie"
   * Nas – "Daughters"
   * Wale (featuring Miguel) – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
   * Young Jeezy (featuring Ne-Yo) – "Leave You Alone"

### Best Dance Performance

* Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
   * Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
   * Nicki Minaj – "Starships"
   * Rihanna – "Where Have You Been"
   * Usher – "Scream"

### CENTRICTV.com Awards

**Best Caribbean Performance**

* Sean Paul – Tomahawk Technique
   * Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
   * Cover Drive – Bajan Style
   * Damian Marley – SuperHeavy
   * Matisyahu – Spark Seeker
   * Rihanna - Where Have You Been

**Best International Performance**

* Estelle – "Thank You"
   * Daley (featuring Marsha Ambrosius) – "Alone Together"
   * Rebecca Ferguson – "Nothing's Real but Love"
   * Gotye (featuring Kimbra) – "Somebody That I Used to Know"
   * Emeli Sandé – "Next to Me"
   * Amy Winehouse – "Our Day Will Come"
   * Rihanna - Where Have You Been

**Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group**

* Tony Bennett – Isn't It Romantic? (tie)
* Robert Glasper – Black Radio (tie)
   * Chris Botti – Impressions
   * Melody Gardot – The Absence
   * Kenny Garrett – Seeds from the Underground

**Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group**

* Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society
   * Brian Culbertson – Dreams
   * Ben Tankard – Full Tank
   * Peter White – Here We Go
   * Cassandra Wilson – Another Country

## Performers

* New Edition
* Miguel
* Keyshia Cole
* John Legend
* Tyrese
* Ne-Yo
* 2 Chainz
* Stevie Wonder
* Elle Varner
* Eddie Levert
* Charlie Wilson
* Fantasia
* Marcus Canty
* Anthony Hamilton

## Telecast

The Soul Train Awards were taped on November 8 and aired on BET and Centric on November 25, 2012.

