While the 'Finesse' hitmaker takes home two awards and the 'Trip' singer scores her first three accolades, Drake is honored with the Rhythm & Bars Award and Ciara lands Best Dance Performance.
- Nov 27, 2018
AceShowbiz - Bruno Mars and Ella Mai were the big winners at the 2018 Soul Train Awards, which were broadcast on Sunday night, November 25.
The "24K Magic" singer won the Video of the Year prize for "Finesse (Remix)", his collaboration with Cardi B, and was named Best R&B/Soul Male Artist at the annual prizegiving ceremony, which celebrates the best in soul, R&B and hip-hop.
British newcomer Ella Mai took home three awards, for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and Song of the Year and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award for her debut single "Boo'd Up". She shared the songwriting prize with the track's co-writers Dijon McFarlane, Joelle James, and Larrance Dopson.
"Thank you @SoulTrain for my first 3 awards, i am honoured (heart emoji) sorry i couldn't be there!" Ella wrote on Twitter.
thank you @SoulTrain for my first 3 awards, i am honoured ❤️ sorry i couldn’t be there!
— Ella Mai (@ellamai) 26 November 2018
Ciara won the Best Dance Performance award for "Level Up", while Drake received the Rhythm & Bars Award (formerly Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year) for "In My Feelings".
"Wow. I'm truly grateful. Thank you @SoulTrain! Thank you to my fans for all your support! Im truly Grateful. God is good. #LevelUp (sic)," Ciara tweeted.
Wow. I’m truly grateful. Thank you @SoulTrain! Thank you to my fans for all your support! Im truly Grateful. God is good. #LevelUppic.twitter.com/rBQu6APm3n
— Ciara (@ciara) 26 November 2018
Other winners included Lecrae, for Best Gospel/Inspirational, Ledisi for Soul Train Certified, Daniel Caesar, who took home the Best New Artist award as well as Best Collaboration Performance prize for "Best Part", his duet with H.E.R. (Gabi Wilson), who won the Album/Mixtape of the Year award for her self-titled debut studio album.
Faith Evans and Erykah Badu collected special honours, the Lady of Soul Award and the Legend Award respectively, and both performed a medley of their hits. During her speech, Erykah reportedly thanked her mum for "beating greatness into her", remembered the late jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and sent love to Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs and his family as they continue to mourn the loss of Kim Porter, the mother of three of his children.
The 2018 Soul Train Awards, which were hosted by best friend duo Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold for BET, were held on 17 November in Las Vegas.
Check out the full list of winners below.
- Best New Artist: Daniel Caesar
- Soul Train Certified Award: Ledisi
- Best R&B/Soul Female Artist: Ella Mai
- Best R&B/Soul Male Artist: Bruno Mars
- Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: Lecrae
- Rhythm & Bars Award: Drake, "In My Feelings"
- Song of the Year: Ella Mai, "Boo'd Up"
- Album/Mixtape of the Year: H.E.R. (Gabi Wilson), "H.E.R."
- The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter's Award: Ella Mai, "Boo'd Up," written by Ella Howell, Dijon McFarlane, Joelle James and Larrance Dopson
- Best Dance Performance: Ciara, "Level Up"
- Best Collaboration Performance: Daniel Caesar, "Best Part (feat. H.E.R. (Gabi Wilson))"
- Video of the Year: Bruno Mars, "Finesse (Remix) feat. Cardi B"
