1996 Soul Train Music Awards

The 1996 Soul Train Music Awards was held on March 29, 1996, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show honored the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was hosted by Brandy, LL Cool J and Anita Baker.

Soul Train Music Awards
Date	March 29, 1996 (1996-03-29)
Location	Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Country	United States
Hosted by	Anita Baker, Brandy and LL Cool J
First award	1987
Most awards	D'Angelo and TLC (3)
Website	soultrain.com
Television/radio coverage
Network	WGN America

Special awards

Heritage Award for Career Achievement

• Patti LaBelle

Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year

• Boyz II Men

Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold text.

R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Male

• D'Angelo – Brown Sugar
  • 'Michael Jackson' – HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
  • Jon B. – Bonafide
  • Brian McKnight – I Remember You

R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Female

• Mary J. Blige – My Life
  • Mariah Carey – Daydream
  • Faith Evans – Faith
  • Monica – Miss Thang

R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo

• TLC – CrazySexyCool
  • Jodeci – The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
  • Solo – Solo
  • Xscape – Off the Hook

Best R&B/Soul Single – Male

• D'Angelo – "Brown Sugar"
  • Michael Jackson – "You Are Not Alone"
  • Montell Jordan – "This Is How We Do It"
  • Seal – "Kiss from a Rose"

Best R&B/Soul Single – Female

• Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  • Mary J. Blige – "I'm Going Down"
  • Brandy – "Brokenhearted"
  • Monica – "Like This Like That/"Before You Walk Out Of My Life"

Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band, or Duo

• TLC – "Waterfalls"
  • Boyz II Men – "Water Runs Dry"
  • Groove Theory – "Tell Me"
  • Jodeci – "Love U 4 Life"

R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year

• The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance"
  • Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  • Method Man (featuring Mary J. Blige) – "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By"
  • TLC – "Waterfalls"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video

• TLC – "Waterfalls"
  • Coolio (featuring L.V.) – "Gangsta's Paradise"
  • Dr. Dre – "Keep Their Heads Ringin'"
  • Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – "Scream"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist

• D'Angelo
  • Faith Evans
  • Junior M.A.F.I.A.
  • Monica

Best Rap Album

• 2Pac – Me Against The World
  • Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
  • Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise
  • Method Man – Tical

Best Jazz Album

• Fourplay – Elixir
  • Boney James – Seduction
  • Keiko Matsui – Sapphire
  • Pat Metheny Group – We Live Here

Best Gospel Album

• The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee – Show Up
  • Yolanda Adams – More Than a Melody
  • Shirley Caesar – He Will Come
  • Kirk Franklin and the Family – Kirk Franklin and the Family

Performances

• LL Cool J – "Doin' It"
• TLC
• Anita Baker
• Mary J. Blige – "Not Gon' Cry"
• The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance" / "Get Money"
• Faith Evans
• Yolanda Adams – "The Battle Is the Lord's"
• Brandy – "Sittin' Up in My Room"
• Patti LaBelle Tribute:
  • Ronald Isley, Rachelle Ferrell, Peabo Bryson, Tamia – "If Only You Knew"
• Patti LaBelle – "Over the Rainbow"

Presenters

• Shemar Moore, Salt-N-Pepa and Veronica Webb - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo
• Tichina Arnold, Jon B. and Goodie Mob - Presented Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist
• Bill Cosby - Presented Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year
• Salli Richardson, Blackstreet and Method Man - Presented Best Jazz Album
• Sinbad and Da Brat - Presented Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video
• Brian McKnight, Xscape and Monifah - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Male
• Dorien Wilson, CeCe Peniston and Solo - Presented Best Rap Album
• D'Angelo, Chantay Savage and Immature - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Female
• Tamara Taylor, Chris Kelly and Montell Jordan - Presented R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year
• Jodeci, Monica and Groove Theory - Presented Best Gospel Album
• Seal - Presented Heritage Award for Career Achievement
• Tevin Campbell, John Henton and Faith Evans - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo
• Robert Townsend, Jermaine Dupri and Brownstone - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Male
• Heavy D, Terry Ellis and Total - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Female