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.

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
  • Quincy Jones – Q's Jook Joint
  • 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 and 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

Performers

• LL Cool J – "Doin' It"
• TLC and Craig Mack – "Kick Your Game"
• Anita Baker
• Mary J. Blige – "Not Gon' Cry"
• Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy and Faith Evans – "One More Chance" and "Get Money"
• Patti LaBelle tribute:
  • Ronald Isley, Rachelle Ferrell, Peabo Bryson and Tamia – "If Only You Knew"
• Yolanda Adams
• Al Green – "Love and Happiness"
• Brandy – "Sittin' Up in My Room"
• Patti LaBelle
• The Braxtons and Jay-Z – "So Many Ways"