2023 Soul Train Awards Nominations: SZA, Usher, Summer Walker Lead The Pack
The nominations for the 2023 Soul Train Awards presented by BET have officially been announced. The show will take place in Los Angeles on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT…
The nominations for the 2023 Soul Train Awards presented by BET have officially been announced. The show will take place in Los Angeles on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. According to the press release, the show will take on a new concept. "This year’s show will reimagine the traditional award show ceremony into a soulful party in Hollywood," the press release states.
As for nominations, SZA, Usher, and Summer Walker lead the pack with nine nominations each, the most of any artists this year. Behind them is 21 Savage with eight, Coco Jones and Victoria Monét with six and Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Janelle Monáe, and October London all tied with four nods each.
SZA is nominated for Song of the Year twice with her SOS hits "Kill Bill," and "Snooze." Usher and Summer Walker who teamed up with 21 Savage on "Good Good" from the Confessions creator's upcoming album Coming Home, also received a nod for Song of the Year. Coco Jones ("ICU"), Victoria Monét ("On My Mama"), Janelle Monáe ("Lipstick Lover"), Toosii ("Favorite Song"), and October London ("Back To Your Place") also received nominations in the category.
"Soul, R&B, and hip hop continue to top the charts and drive culture forward,” Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, said in a statement. "This year, we are taking inspiration from these genres to innovate and disrupt the award show format while celebrating the legacy of Soul Train. We are proud of this year’s list of esteemed nominees and look to deliver an unforgettable night of soul with our new location, performances, and show moments."
Performers have not been announced at this time.
Take a look at the full list of nominations below:
Album of the year
The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe
Age/Sex/Location, Ari Lennox
Clear 2: Soft Life EP, Summer Walker
Girls Night Out (Extended), Babyface
I Told Them…, Burna Boy
Jaguar II, Victoria Monét
SOS, SZA
What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe), Coco Jones
Song of the year
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Favorite Song,” Toosii
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Snooze,” SZA
Song of the year
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Favorite Song,” Toosii
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Snooze,” SZA
Video of the year
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
“Boyfriend,” Usher
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Special,” Lizzo
Best R&B/soul female artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Janelle Monáe
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria Monét
Best R&B/soul male artist
6lack
Babyface
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Eric Bellinger
October London
Usher
Best group
Dvsn
Flo
Jagged Edge
Kool & The Gang
Maverick City Music
Phony Ppl
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
Tank and The Bangas
Wanmor
Best collaboration
“America Has a Problem” (Remix), Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
“Creepin’ (Remix),” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy Feat. 21 Savage
“Fly Girl,” Flo feat. Missy Elliott
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage
“Special,” Lizzo feat. SZA
“To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug),” Summer Walker, J. Cole
Best new artist
Ambré
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Doechii
Flo
Fridayy
Tyla
Wanmor
Certified soul award
Anthony Hamilton
Ashanti
Ciara
Eric Bellinger
Monica
PJ Morton
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
T-Pain
Usher
The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Favorite Song,” Toosii
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage
“Snooze,” SZA
Best dance performance
“Better Thangs,” Ciara Feat. Summer Walker
“Boyfriend,” Usher
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“How We Roll,” Ciara & Chris Brown
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Snooze,” SZA
“Summer Too Hot,” Chris Brown
“Under the Influence,” Chris Brown
Best gospel/inspirational award
“All of the Glory,” Shirley Caesar
“All Things,” Kirk Franklin
“Came Too Far,” Fridayy Feat. Maverick City Music & My Mom
“Cry,” Koryn Hawthorne
“Feel Alright (Blessed),” Erica Campbell
“God Problems,” Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine
“The Journey,” H.E.R.
“Try Love,” Kirk Franklin
The 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards are finally here and your favorite artists showed out on the red carpet. The award show took place in Atlanta last week. Fat Joe is the host for the second time after hosting the award show last year.
"Overall it’s a dream come true for me," Joe told PEOPLE. "It’s the second year I’m doing the Hip Hop awards, but I always think back to being in junior high and doing the talent shows and then Apollo Theater Amateur Night and it all leads to this. And so it’s an honor for me."
Fans can expect performances by Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Offset, Da Brat, Grandmaster Flash, Sexxy Red, GloRilla, DaBaby, and more. There will also be a So So Def 30th anniversary tribute featuring Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Ludacris and Da Brat.
The "Lean Back" rapper was asked his thoughts on the current state of hip-hop and what he thinks of the next generation coming up.
"Whether I like the music or I don’t, I always encourage the youth to do better, to keep rocking, to uplift the hip hop community, to hire more people, take care of their kids," he told CNN. "That’s what I’m about. I don’t really throw shade on the youth."
As for nominations, Cardi B and 21 Savage lead the pack with 12 nominations each. They share seven categories including Best Collaboration, Lyricist of the Year, Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, Hustler of the Year, Best Hip-Hop Video, Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse, and Song of the Year.
Behind 21 and Cardi is Drake, Burna Boy, and DJ Khaled received seven nods each, followed by J. Cole with six, and Coi Leray, GloRilla, and Jay-Z with five nominations each. Other nominees include Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and more.
The 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards airs tonight (Oct. 10) at 9 p.m. on BET. Take a look at some of the best looks of the night below:
10. Erica Banks
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Erica Banks stepped onto the red carpet in a beautiful brown dress. The dress was made of a deep brown chiffon material that had a halter-style neckline. The dress was also ruched at the bottom. She paired the look with gold heels.
9. Coi Leray
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Coi Leray made quite an exit with her Bet Hip Hop Awards look. The "Players" rapper wore a matching set that showed off her entire midriff. The ultra mini skirt came with a side sash in which became a train for the rapper on the carpet. She also switched up her pixie with some blue dye for the night.
8. Vic Mensa
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Vic Mensa was the best-dressed guy of the night with his denim-on-denim-like outfit. On white pants there is an outline of jeans and the jean jacket is lined with the same white material. He accessorized with glasses and a large gold chain.
6. Mehgan James
(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)Mehgan James wore a sexy black middle-cut dress. The low-cut dress is matched with its floor-length design. She accessorized lightly with a diamond bracelet and necklace.
BET Hip Hop Awards 2023 - Arrivals
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Sexyy Red showed up to the BET Awards in a bright red outfit. The "SkeeYee" rapper left little to the imagination in her almost non existent low cut dress. The dress also had a cross necklace hanging at the end of her cut. She accessorized with a "Big Sexxy" chain and silver shoes.
5. Lola Brooke
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Lola Brooke looked amazing in her two-piece matching set. The rapper changed her usual straight look for a boho locs which complimented the outfit. The green fit had a flame design and cutouts on the pants with two larger flames creating a top for the rapper.
4. B. Simone
(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)B. Simone looked gorgeous in her white satin gown at the BET Awards. The comedian wore her hair in a half-up-half-down hairstyle which brought even more elegance to the outfit. She accessorized with a large diamond necklace and dainty diamond bracelet.
4. GloRilla
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)GloRilla channeled her inner Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes with her outfit. The hairstyle is similar to what the late rapper wore in "No Scrubs."Glo, however, traded in the black leather for a brown crop top and fur skirt for her look. She also added, thigh high leather boots to complete her outfit.
2. Baby Tate
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)Baby Tate has a 70s inspired look for the BET Awards and we can't get enough of it. From the halter dress, white boots, and blonde hair, she really killed it. The star even wore a matching purse to go along with her dress. You can tell a lot of intent went along with this look.
1. Flo Milli
(Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)And as for the best look of the night...it goes to none other than rapper Flo Milli. The colorful dress complimented her so well as did the spaghetti strap fit of it. Her orange shoes made the outfit pop as did the matching pattern of her hat. While it was a risk, she definitely pulled it off. Another star of the show was her large gold necklace and while many stars opted for diamonds, she stood out once more and it paid off.
