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.

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"

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.