This year’s list FULL list of winners was finally released today (click thru for list). Rihanna took the crown in the “Best Caribbean Performance” category for her reggae influenced song “Man Down”. The track was produced by Virgin Islands hit-making duo Rock City! Although, Rihanna is arguably one of the most successful artists to ever come out of the Caribbean, I think Soul Train got this one WRONG! By the way, I attended the show and there was no mention at the taping so I thought it would have been disclosed during the airing of the show but alas I was disappointed and had to learn via press release!!
Also, disappointing, as previously discussed on RCS, the category itself is categorically WRONG! This award should be ‘Best Caribbean Artist’ which would be more representative of an artist’s full body of work over the past year. Rihanna made one reggae influenced song and she gets nominated and wins? Listen I love Riri but this is a marketing and pseudo-political move to get bigger and better A-listers associated with the show. Rihanna is a successful pop singer who happens to be Bajan and I love dat! That being said, Riri is not to be in the same category with a Vybz Kartel or a Machel. These artists are just not of the same genre or cut from the same cloth!!! Again, Rihanna is an AWESOME artist but she didn’t belong in this category! Soul Train needs some Caribbean advisors such as myself to guide them on this one!!!!
Nonetheless, congratulations to all the nominees!!! And shout out to Machel Montano who was the only Caribbean nominee in town for the taping! They should have had a show stage outside and Machel should have performed!!! Just my two cents…….what’s yours??
Best Caribbean Performance
Man Down -Rihanna – WINNER
Summer Time -Vybz Kartel
Wotless -Kes The Band
Bend Over Machel Montano
Delilah Mavado
PS — Will someone please tell Centric, Soul Train and BET that Mavado’s name is still misspelled. Its on their website as Movado (one “O”)!!!
2011 Soul Train Awards Winners
Best New Artist Miguel
Centric Award Raphael Saddiq
Best Male R&B/Soul Artist Cee-Lo Green
Best Female R&B/Soul Artist Jill Scott
Best Gospel Performance Mary Mary, Walking
Album of the Year Chris Brown, F.A.M.E.
Best Soul Site NecoleBitchie.com
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriters Award/Record of the Year, Far Away Marsha Ambrosius
2011 Soul Train Legends Gladys Knight and the Pips, Earth Wind and Fire
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year Nicki Minaj, Kanye West ft. Rihanna, Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Moment For Life
Contemporary Jazz Dave Koz, Dave Koz, Hello Tomorrow
Traditional Jazz Cassandra Wilson, Cassandra Wilson, Silver Pony
Best Dance Performance Beyonce, Run The World
Song of the Year Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne, Motivation
