Love, Peace and Soul (and a Little Faith): The 2018 Soul Train Awards Was a Night of '90s Nostalgia

All eyes and (marketing strategies) may be on millennials and Gen Z, but despite artists from those generations leading the pack in nominations, by all appearances, it was “grown folks music” that dominated the 2018 Soul Train Awards. Suggested Reading Why Timothée Chalamet, Druski’s Latest Internet Shenanigans Has Some Black Folks Inviting Him to the…

All eyes and (marketing strategies) may be on millennials and Gen Z, but despite artists from those generations leading the pack in nominations, by all appearances, it was “grown folks music” that dominated the 2018 Soul Train Awards.

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For those of us of a certain age, Saturday night’s annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas was like a high school reunion. In fact, as I spoke at an engagement with a group of women who were mere toddlers (if born at all) when I graduated high school, many of my teenage faves were strutting across the stage at the Orleans Arena, just to let us know they’ve still got it.

We’re talking performances and appearances by Bell Biv Devoe, Jon B., Donell Jones, and Carl Thomas. Then, add some Kid ‘n Play and Al B. Sure! (which couldn’t have been an easy appearance, following the sudden death of former partner and co-parent Kim Porter). And the special honors of the night, which went to previous host Erykah Badu, who won the Legend award, and Lady of Soul award winner Faith Evans.

And then there were the evening’s hosts, BFFs Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold, who shouted out their Martin heyday with show-branded varsity jackets that we’re sure at least a few folks would love to cop.

The show won’t air on BET until Nov. 25 (while you’re still overstuffed from Thanksgiving), so we won’t spoil it any further. But to see who wore what, scroll through the slideshow…

Straight From The Root

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