# 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.