The annual Soul Train Awards were held on November 6, 2015 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and were aired on Centric and BET on November 29, 2015. The awards celebrated Soul and R&B artists. The Weeknd and “Uptown Funk” tied on the winners’ board with two awards each.
The show was opened by the feisty Erykah Badu. She kick-started the night with a medley of her songs. She excelled as a host by keeping up the pace of the show, and her witty statements just added to the fun. She owned the event throughout by cracking jokes at her expense, too.
She did not forget to mention that the evening was completely dedicated to singing, and no rappers would be allowed. This drew the audience into raucous laughter as her puns and witty statements continued. Her on-stage act of answering a call from Iggy Azalea telling her that she could come to the show “because you’re definitely not rap” was top-notch.
This was Badu’s second stint as the host, the last one being in 1999. This year, she played multiple roles and has been with the show since its inception. As an Associate Producer and Writer, it was easy for her to play the host. She credited her other team members for being super loose and creating a fun atmosphere that did not hamper her creativity.
Performances Made the Audience Swoon
The show witnessed some enthralling performances as the Orleans Arena lit up with Soul and R&B music. The audiences were brought to their feet as Badu, along with Chrisette Michele, K-Ci Hailey, Lalah Hathaway, and Eddie Levert, performed the inaugural Soul Train Soul Cypher. Other performances included Tyrese, R. Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan, Cameo, Erica Campbell, Tasha Cobbs, Empire‘s V. Bozeman, and After 7.
The audiences went through an enchanting experience as these artists took over the stage. Badu’s Soul Cypher was one of the most well-received pieces of the evening. “I felt it would be really cool. I handpicked the artists and the music; I was just amazed that it came together so fast,” said Badu. The highlight of the show was the tribute to Jill Scott and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
Honors and Accolades at Soul Train Awards
Jill Scott also received the first ever Lady of Soul honor. She said, “The Lady of Soul honor means a lot. It’s the culmination of 15 years of giving my heart and energy to an audience that appreciates it. It’s a real privilege to still be able to tap into people’s hearts and have ourselves look at ourselves. And for it to come from such a great legacy. This is Soul Train; this is what brought soul music into America’s houses.”
This was followed by an amazing performance by Scott. She took the stage with soul-stirring renditions of fan favorites and current singles including “Back Together,” “A Long Walk,” “Whatever,” and “Cross My Mind.” She also received the award for best R&B/Soul female artist.
The Weeknd took home the award for best R&B/Soul male artist and Album of the Year for Beauty Behind the Madness. Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” featuring Bruno Mars claimed awards for Song of the Year and Video of the Year.
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