R. Kelly, Jagged Edge Lead Soul Train Awards
March 1 -- Multitalented R. Kelly and smooth-singing quartet Jagged Edge were the big winners at this year's 15th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, held in Los Angeles Wednesday night, with each taking home two prizes.
Also honored were pop superstar outfit Destiny's Child and rapper Jay-Z, who both picked up Sammy Davis Jr. Awards for Entertainer of the Year, (for female and male, respectively). The awards show will be broadcast in syndication on Saturday.
The Houston-based trio also performed a new song, "Survivor," at the ceremony, telling reporters backstage that the song, its next single, was inspired by the hit CBS television series.
"Someone said, 'Destiny's Child is like the Survivor series — which one is going to be the last one on the island?'"
Jagged Edge's two awards came for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo, for "Let's Get Married," and Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo, for J.E. Heartbreak. The members of the quintet, who said the two awards were their first ever, described the experience as "a beautiful blessing and an out-of-body experience." They told reporters, "[We] weren't even there, it was so fast."
Kelly's two trophies were for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male, for "I Wish," and Best R&B/Soul Album, Male, for TP-2.com.
Jill Scott's acclaimed debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?, which didn't earn the newcomer a trophy at last week's Grammy Awards, won her the Best R&B/Soul Album, Female prize last night.
"I'm just in a state of shock," Scott said. "I'm happy and I'm just speechless at this point. After just not winning, I decided to just let it go, because that wasn't my intention in the first place. People tell you every day, 'You're going to win,' and it seeps in like a virus. And then this, to be recognized by my people, is what [I wanted] in the first place."
Nelly also picked up a prize last night, after getting shut out in the Best New Artist Category at the Grammys. The rapper snagged the prize for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.