The 2015 Soul Train Awards hosted by Erykah Badu, rolled down the track again full for incredible performances.
Riding hoverboards on stage, Erykah Badu led the way with a melody of her songs including, Danger, On & On, and Love of My Life.
During her show-opener, she said no rappers were allowed on the show. In the middle of her monologue she took a phone call and said, “Yes, I said no rappers.” She said she’s not taking anyone with ‘little’ or ‘young’ in their name. She also pretended to take a call from Iggy Azalea and said you can come because “What you do is differently not rap.”
First Award
Tisha Campbell Martin and Tichina were the first presenters for the Best New Artist category. The Soul Train Award went to Jidenna for Classic Man with Roman GianArthur.
Up next, Tyrese took the stage to perform his hit R&B single Shame. He sang the song from his soul.
Best Dance Performance category was next and the Soul Train Award went to Silento for Watch Me. Who hasn’t heard of or know how to do the Nae Nae.
Erykah then introduced Jeremih who performed You and I and Planes.
Best Collaboration was the next category, and the Soul Train Award went to Omarion and Chris Brown. They couldn’t attend the show, but they won for Post To Be.
Erykah Was Funny
Erykah jokingly called out Tyrese for using his cell phone in the audience and she began to sing, I Can Make You Put Your Phone Down (not a real song) as she took the phones away. She went back to the stage and broke out into her hit, Call Tyrone, then a gentleman came to the stage and said he was Tyrone, and he wanted her to stop talking about him. It was a funny skit and the audience were on their feet applauding.
The next category was the Centric Certified Award and the honor went to Tyrese for his album, Black Rose.
Jill Scott Brought the House Down
Jill Scott was the next honoree. She received the Lady of Soul Award. Her young son helped her to the stage to receive the award. “I thank my village … I appreciate you treating me with respect.” She then broke into a performance of Back Together, Whatever, Cross My Mind, A Long Walk, and It’s Love.
Erykah was back with Chrisette Michele, K-Ci, Lalah Hathaway and Eddie Levert for another killer performance. They called it a Soul Cypher.
The performances kept coming. Up next was Jazmine Sullivan who sang Let It Burn, followed by After 7 with Ready or Not.
The next category was Song of the Year, and the Soul train Award went to Mark Ronson for Uptown Funk with Bruno Mars. They were not in attendance so Janelle Monae accepted the award in their absences.
Erica Campbell was the next performer and sang Little More Jesus, followed by Tasha Cobbs who sang Praise On It. The ladies took the audience to church!
Babyface is Definitely a Legend
L.A. Reid was next. He announced the Soul Train Legend Award for Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. The 11 Grammy Award winner who sold over 500 million records is certainly a living legend. He joked about forgetting to thank L.A. Reid when he won an award back in the ’90s and he wanted a “do-over” said, “I want to thank you L.A. for being my friend and being my partner.”
He then played the piano and started a melody of his hit songs including, Can We Talk. Brandi performed Sittin’ Up In My Room. Fantasia performed Exhale and Superwoman. Every Little Step I Take was next leading into Bobby Brown performing Tenderoni. Babyface came down from the piano to help him out.
Boyz II Men followed and needed no help to sing I’ll Make Love To You, and End of The Road. Then Babyface sang Whip Appeal, and he killed it.
Best R&B Soul Female Artist was the next category, and the Soul Train Award went to Jill Scott. She was shocked and near tears to receive it and just yelled, “Thank you so much!”
After a video joking about the red triangle that lead singer Larry Blackmon always worn on his crotch area, Cameo performed Word Up together for the first time in years.
R. Kelly’s Big Finish
Erykah came back to introduce R. Kelly. His first song, Step In The Name of Love began as a video introduction into his on-stage performance of Backyard Party, followed by Your Body’s Callin and When A Woman’s Fed Up. He went into Ignition and the audience was dancing. Next was Bump and Grind and there was a party on and off the stage.
Erykah ended the show giving thanks to all the performers and BET Chief Executive Officer Debra Lee, with the closing Soul Train phrase, “Peace, Love and Soul.”
The 2015 Soul Train Awards was a show of fabulous performances with a few awards mixed in. The performances almost made you forget it was really an awards show.
It was definitely a Soul Train!
Tanya Hart