Soul Train Awards 2012: Winners

See who took home an award!

Best R&B/Soul Male Artist: Miguel - Singer. Songwriter. Future icon? Whatever the next few years look like for Miguel it's safe to say he's on the path for success. This year the L.A.-bred superstar gave us a peripheral view into his Kaleidescope Dream, to which we were pleasantly surprised to see and hear. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Best R&B/Soul Male Artist: Miguel - Singer. Songwriter. Future icon? Whatever the next few years look like for Miguel it's safe to say he's on the path for success. This year the L.A.-bred superstar gave us a peripheral view into his Kaleidescope Dream, to which we were pleasantly surprised to see and hear. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Best Hip Hop Song of the Year: Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – "Mercy" - Every summer there's a hip hop anthem that seduces listeners, fans and party floors everywhere. This year that song was "Mercy" and we had no choice but to ride that Soul Train line. Rapper 2 Chainz accepted the award on behalf of all the artists.  (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Best Hip Hop Song of the Year: Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – "Mercy" - Every summer there's a hip hop anthem that seduces listeners, fans and party floors everywhere. This year that song was "Mercy" and we had no choice but to ride that Soul Train line. Rapper 2 Chainz accepted the award on behalf of all the artists.  (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Song of the Year: Tyrese - Whether he's saving the planet from alien robots on the big screen or saving his best for the recording booth,Tyrese Gibson knows how to make a hit no matter what the platform is. This year his song "Stay" lived up to its title as we had iPods going back to this song over and over again.  (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Song of the Year: Tyrese - Whether he's saving the planet from alien robots on the big screen or saving his best for the recording booth,Tyrese Gibson knows how to make a hit no matter what the platform is. This year his song "Stay" lived up to its title as we had iPods going back to this song over and over again.  (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Lifetime Achievement Award: New Edition - The recipients of the Lifetime Achievment Award, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown — better known as New Edition — poured their hearts out as they talked about their group history and what the award meant to them.(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Lifetime Achievement Award: New Edition - The recipients of the Lifetime Achievment Award, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown — better known as New Edition — poured their hearts out as they talked about their group history and what the award meant to them.(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Centric Award: Leah LaBelle - From YouTube videos to American Idol, Leah LaBelle has gone down a multitude of paths all of which have allowed her to achieve her goal of breaking into the music industry. This year she continues her successful ride, this time on the Soul Train line.(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Centric Award: Leah LaBelle - From YouTube videos to American Idol, Leah LaBelle has gone down a multitude of paths all of which have allowed her to achieve her goal of breaking into the music industry. This year she continues her successful ride, this time on the Soul Train line.(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Best New Artist: Elle Varner - Equally beautiful and talented, Elle Varner has made a name for herself as one of R&B's boldest and brightest newcomers. With her recent album, Perfectly Imperfect, she's shown the world that achieving perfection may be difficult but it gets closer with every stop on the Soul Train. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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Best New Artist: Elle Varner - Equally beautiful and talented, Elle Varner has made a name for herself as one of R&B's boldest and brightest newcomers. With her recent album, Perfectly Imperfect, she's shown the world that achieving perfection may be difficult but it gets closer with every stop on the Soul Train. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award: John Legend ft. Ludacris-"Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" - From Grammy's to G.O.O.D. Music, John Legend is a force to be reckoned with. Of course the enigmatic singer took a ride on the Soul Train with his hit "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" and we salute him for it. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award: John Legend ft. Ludacris-"Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" - From Grammy's to G.O.O.D. Music, John Legend is a force to be reckoned with. Of course the enigmatic singer took a ride on the Soul Train with his hit "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" and we salute him for it. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks    - For the Sparkle soundtrack, pop queen Whitney Houston traded vocals with Jordin Sparks on the R. Kelly-produced cut "Celebrate." Together they are both nominated for Best Gospel/Inspiration Performance. (Photo: Tristar Films)

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Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance: Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks, "Celebrate" - With both artists shining brilliantly in the movie Sparkle, "Celebrate" is a moving piece by two exceptional artists that know how to make magic. A posthumous honor for Whitney Houston, the song and award are a reminder of her immense talent. (Photo: Tristar Pictures)

Andrea Meigs (Beyonce's Agent) - Andrea Meigs is another African American female agent who works for ICM. She also represents Beyonce and The Game creator, Mara Brock. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Best R&B/Soul Female Artist: Beyoncé - If there's a word that best describes Beyoncé it's "inspirational." Talented and classy and a bit provocative, the R&B diva has kept her music consistent without adhering to conventions. The Soul Train line feels it as do listeners everywhere.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Frank Ocean  - As a man who rocked hip hop and R&B as much with his personal bravery as he did with his breakout album, Channel Orange, Frank Ocean's debut snags an Album of the Year nod. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Album of the Year: Frank Ocean, Channel Orange - With songwriting abilities paralleled by few (and most them being R&B legends) and a steady catalog of collaborations (most notably with Kanye West and Jay-Z for Watch the Throne), it was a safe bet that Channel Orange was going to be nothing less than stellar. Sure enough, upon release the album had an impact among music lovers everywhere ensuring a comfortable space on the Soul Train. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Beyoncé - What else can be said about this pop icon, mom, wife, actress and music power player who, for over a decade, continues to hold sway over the pop-R&B landscape...except, once again, she's nominated for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and Best Dance Performance.  (Photo: AP Photo/Parkwood Entertainment, Cliff Watts)

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Best Dance Performance: Beyoncé, "Love on Top" - If Beyoncé's music captures our ears, it's her dance moves that capture our hearts and minds. With her "Love on Top" video, Beyoncé paid tribute to none other than New Edition and their video for "If It Isn't Love."(Photo: AP Photo/Parkwood Entertainment, Cliff Watts)

Sean Paul  - Sean Paul's latest hit disc, Tomahawk Technique, snags him a nod for Best Caribbean Performance.  (Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

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Best Caribbean Performance: Sean Paul, Tomahawk Technique - Combining traditional dance-hall reggae with electro-pop, artist Sean Paul created a brilliant mix that seamlessly crosses genres, respected by even the most ardent purists. (Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Best International Performance: Estelle, "Thank You" - Whether singing or rapping, Estelle sure knows how to keep the Soul Train moving even overseas. With her most recent award for Best International Performance for her moving ballad “Thank You," Estelle continues her standard for excellence. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Best International Performance: Estelle, "Thank You" - Whether singing or rapping, Estelle sure knows how to keep the Soul Train moving even overseas. With her most recent award for Best International Performance for her moving ballad “Thank You," Estelle continues her standard for excellence. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

Best Independent R&B/Soul Artist or Group: Eric Roberson - For over a decade Eric Roberson has been the unofficial king of indie R&B/soul artists. With more than six critically acclaimed albums under his belt, its safe to say he reigns supreme.  (Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

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Best Independent R&B/Soul Artist or Group: Eric Roberson - For over a decade Eric Roberson has been the unofficial king of indie R&B/soul artists. With more than six critically acclaimed albums under his belt, its safe to say he reigns supreme.  (Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

Best Traditional Jazz Artist Award: The Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio and Tony Bennett, Isn’t It Romantic [TIE] - Robert Glasper has brought a new edge to jazz while Bennett continues to revitalize the formula that has made him one of jazz music’s most popular singers for 50 years. (Photos from left: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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Best Traditional Jazz Artist Award: The Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio and Tony Bennett, Isn’t It Romantic [TIE] - Robert Glasper has brought a new edge to jazz while Bennett continues to revitalize the formula that has made him one of jazz music’s most popular singers for 50 years. (Photos from left: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group: Esperanza Spalding - In the past few years Esperanza Spalding has positioned herself as the first lady of jazz. Her fourth studio album, Radio Music Society, spent more than 13 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group: Esperanza Spalding - In the past few years Esperanza Spalding has positioned herself as the first lady of jazz. Her fourth studio album, Radio Music Society, spent more than 13 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)