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.

Special awards

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"

CENTRICTV.com Awards

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