# 1996 Soul Train Music Awards
The 1996 [Soul Train Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/soul-train-music-awards) was the 10th annual edition of the Soul Train Music Awards, an awards show honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music, held on March 29, 1996, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) The big winners were the R&B newcomer D'Angelo and the trio TLC, who each took home three awards.[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Edition and date | 10th annual ceremony, held March 29, 1996[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Venue | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California; televised live[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Hosts | Anita Baker, LL Cool J, and Brandy[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Top winners | D'Angelo and TLC, three awards each[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Heritage Award | Patti LaBelle[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year | Boyz II Men[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) |
| Best Rap Album | 2Pac, *Me Against the World*[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html) |
## Background
The Soul Train Music Awards were created in 1987 by [Don Cornelius](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-cornelius) as an offshoot of his long-running weekly dance show *Soul Train*, to create recognition for Black artists.[3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1996/09/08/ladies-week/6421b18a-0fc1-49ff-b6dd-d846de4e004e/) The 1996 ceremony was the tenth edition. The Los Angeles Times announced in February 1996 that the show would be co-hosted by [Anita Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-baker), LL Cool J, and Brandy and would air March 29 on KTLA-TV Channel 5.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-23-ca-39073-story.html)
Unlike the weekly *Soul Train* program, the awards ceremony featured live music rather than lip-synced performances, with sets from the Notorious B.I.G. and [Mary J. Blige](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-j-blige), among others.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
## Winners
D'Angelo (full name Michael D'Angelo Archer) won best R&B/soul or rap new artist, best R&B/soul male single, and best R&B/soul male album, all for his debut album *Brown Sugar*. He said backstage that he was honored to be chosen by the *Soul Train* television show he had grown up watching every Saturday in [Richmond, Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/richmond-virginia).[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
For *CrazySexyCool*, the album that had earned the group one of its two Grammys a month earlier, TLC took the award for R&B/soul album by a group, band, or duo, and the trio's "Waterfalls" picked up two more trophies, as the top R&B/soul single from a group, band, or duo and as the best R&B/soul or rap video.[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/)
Other winners included [Whitney Houston](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-houston) for best R&B/soul single, female, with "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"; the Notorious B.I.G. for best R&B/soul or rap song with "One More Chance"; Mary J. Blige for best R&B/soul album, female, with *My Life*; 2Pac for best rap album with *Me Against the World*, beating Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" in a crowded field; Fourplay for jazz album with *Elixir*; and The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee for gospel album with *Show Up!*[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
**Special honors.** [Patti LaBelle](https://www.edgepedia.org/patti-labelle) received the Soul Train Heritage Award for career achievement, which had previously gone to acts including [Stevie Wonder](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevie-wonder), Prince, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and [Quincy Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/quincy-jones). Tamia joined Peabo Bryson and others in a tribute performance to LaBelle. The Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year honor went to Boyz II Men.[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
[Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson) and Monica, who had three nominations each, did not win any categories.[1](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/)
## Voting method
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Soul Train Awards were based on a survey of about 3,000 radio programmers and record retailers, which the paper described as making them the most prestigious R&B awards.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html) An earlier Los Angeles Times account of the 1991 ceremony likewise reported that the awards other than the producer-presented Sammy Davis Jr. Award were based on the voting of approximately 3,000 retailers, radio industry personnel, and artists from around the country.[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-14-ca-531-story.html)
## East Coast versus West Coast tension
The 1996 ceremony took place during the height of the East Coast versus West Coast rap rivalry between [Death Row Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/death-row-records) and [Bad Boy Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/bad-boy-records). According to Reggie Wright Jr., a former security chief at Death Row Records, hostility continued backstage at the 1996 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles because the Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was chosen over [Tupac Shakur](https://www.edgepedia.org/tupac-shakur) to open the show. The Death Row entourage confronted Bad Boy, with Sean "Diddy" Combs and Wallace, at the event.[6](https://apnews.com/article/2567b97c8d1542fe6c7a0804aaa2b386) Shakur, who won the rap album award that night, was fatally shot six months later, in September 1996; Wallace was killed in March 1997.[6](https://apnews.com/article/2567b97c8d1542fe6c7a0804aaa2b386)
Despite the backstage friction, the Los Angeles Times reported that the ceremony itself had "only good vibes."[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
## References
1. [D'Angelo, TLC top Soul Train Awards, UPI Archives (March 30, 1996)](https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1996/03/30/DAngelo-TLC-top-Soul-Train-Awards/9837828162000/)
2. [It's a Soul Train Awards Joy Ride for TLC, D'Angelo, Los Angeles Times (April 1, 1996)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-01-ca-53511-story.html)
3. [Ladies Week, The Washington Post (September 7, 1996)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1996/09/08/ladies-week/6421b18a-0fc1-49ff-b6dd-d846de4e004e/)
4. [Pop/Rock, Los Angeles Times (February 23, 1996)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-23-ca-39073-story.html)
5. [Rap Battle of Words Dominates Show, Los Angeles Times (March 14, 1991)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-14-ca-531-story.html)
6. [Inside the East vs. West rap rivalry that led to the murders of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. in 1990s, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/2567b97c8d1542fe6c7a0804aaa2b386)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music institutions and events › Music awards › United States major music awards › Soul Train Music Awards › Soul Train Music Awards ceremonies, 1995–1999*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license