NEWS
H.E.R. onstage at the 2020 Soul Train Awards presented by BET.
Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BETH.E.R. leads the 2021 Soul Train Awards nominations with eight nods. Jazmine Sullivan and Chris Brown follow with six nominations each.
Wizkid and Tems are next in line with five nods each, followed by Blxst with four. Silk Sonic, Doja Cat, and Yung Bleu each have three nods.
H.E.R., Sullivan and Wizkid are each nominated for three marquee awards – song, album and video of the year. Silk Sonic, the duo comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, are nominated for both song and video of the year for “Leave the Door Open,” a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Soul Train Awards, which recognizes the best in soul and R&B, will be taped at the legendary Apollo theater in Harlem on Nov. 20. It will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. As previously announced, Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold will co-host the show for the fourth consecutive year.
The show will be special on two counts. This will mark the first time the show has been taped at the Apollo (or in New York, for that matter). It will also honor the 50th anniversary of Soul Train, which made its debut in October 1971.
Maxwell will receive the Legend award, which has gone in recent years to Babyface (2015), Teddy Riley (2016), Toni Braxton (2017), Erykah Badu (2018) and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (2019).
“It’s an honor to be presented with the Legend award by a community that’s been growing with me throughout my career,” Maxwell said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to be sharing this moment with everyone and returning to the Apollo for an evening of excellence.”
Ashanti will be the recipient of the Lady of Soul honor, won in recent years by Jill Scott (2015), Brandy (2016), SWV (2017), Faith Evans (2018), Yolanda Adams (2019) and Monica (2020).
“I’m honored to be recognized as this year’s Lady of Soul honoree,” Ashanti said. “This is a full circle moment for me because I received the Aretha Franklin entertainer of the year award at the Lady of Soul Awards in 2002. As we commemorate 50 years of Soul Train, I’m proud to be a part of this legacy and to return to the Apollo to celebrate."
BET Soul plans to dedicate a full hour to music videos by Maxwell and Ashanti, starting Wednesday (Nov. 3) at 10 a.m. ET. Check local listings.
Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, will oversee the show, with Jamal Noisette VP, specials, music programming & music strategy, set to co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay will serve as executive producers.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2021 Soul Train Awards:
Song of the year:
Blxst feat. Ty Dolla $Ign & Tyga – “Chosen”
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – “Leave the Door Open”
H.E.R. – “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”
Yung Bleu feat. Drake – “You’re Mines Still”
Album of the year:
Blxst – No Love Lost
Doja Cat - Planet Her
Giveon - When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time
H.E.R. - Back of My Mind
Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales
Wizkid - Made in Lagos
Video of the year:
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – “Leave the Door Open”
Chris Brown, Young Thug feat. Future, Lil Durk, Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
H.E.R. – “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Normani feat. Cardi B – “Wild Side”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”
Best R&B/soul female artist:
Alicia Keys
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Best R&B/soul male artist:
Blxst
Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
Tank
Usher
Best collaboration:
Chris Brown, Young Thug feat. Future, Lil Durk, Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown – “Come Through”
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. – “Girl Like Me”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”
Yung Bleu feat. Drake – “You’re Mines Still”
Best new artist:
Blxst
Capella Grey
Morray
Tems
Tone Stith
Yung Bleu
Certified soul award:
Anthony Hamilton
Ashanti
Charlie Wilson
The Isley Brothers
Jam & Lewis
T-Pain
Best dance performance:
Chloe X Halle – “Ungodly Hour”
Chris Brown, Young Thug – “City Girls”
Lizzo Feat. Cardi B – “Rumors”
Normani Feat. Cardi B- “Wild Side”
Usher – “Bad Habits”
Best gospel/inspirational award:
Brian Courtney Wilson
James Fortune
Kelly Price
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award:
“Can’t Let It Show” - written by: Kate Bush, Durrell Babbs (Tank)
“Come Through” - written by: Carl Mccormick, Chris Brown, H.E.R., Kelvin Wooten, Michael L. Williams Ii, Tiara Thomas (H.E.R. Feat. Chris Brown)
“Damage” - written by: Anthony Clemons Jr., Carl Mccormick, H.E.R., James Harris, Jeff Gitelman, Terry Lewis, Tiara Thomas (H.E.R.)
“Essence” - written by: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, Oniko Eddie Uzezi, Oniko Evawero, Richard Isong, Temilade Openiyi (Wizkid Feat. Tems)
“Leave the Door Open” - written by: Bruno Mars, Brandon Anderson, Dernst Emile Ii, Christopher Brody Brown (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic)
“Pick Up Your Feelings” - written by: Blue June, Chi, Audra Mae Butts, Jazmine Sullivan, Kyle Coleman, Michael Holmes (Jazmine Sullivan)
NEWS
Kaiser Chiefs have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their seminal debut album, ‘Employment’. Find all the details below.
The Leeds band released the seven-times Platinum, UK Number Two record back in 2005. It features the classic singles ‘Oh My God’, ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’.
‘Employment’ was named Best Album at the NME Awards 2006 – beating competition from Oasis, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and Babyshambles – and has sold more than 2.1million copies.
Ahead of their huge 20th anniversary homecoming gig at Temple Newsam Park next Saturday (May 31) – where they’ll play ‘Employment’ in full – Ricky Wilson and co. have shared details of a special reissue to further mark the milestone.
A year typically commemorated with china, the group will celebrate two decades of their debut full-length with three brand new expanded ‘China Anniversary’ formats – which will arrive on July 18. Pre-order/pre-save here.
The 1LP edition is pressed on white vinyl and features the bonus track ‘Take My Temperature’, while the 2LP set contains 15 additional tracks, including a selection of B-sides and CD single bonus tracks, plus two previously unreleased songs, exclusive to this format.
On the 3CD set, alongside the original album, the band have added 40 tracks, including previously unreleased demo recordings, remixes, radio sessions, and a selection of live tracks that “chart their rapid rise from small club dates in Leeds, to festival headline act”.
The original album has been remastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, with the bonus material being curated by the band from their own archive.
To preview the forthcoming release, Kaiser Chiefs have shared ‘I Predict A Riot (Big Nurse Remix)’. Listen here:
The tracklists for Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘Employment – China Anniversary Edition’ are:
1LP:
Side A
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
Side B
1. Born To Be A Dancer
2. Saturday Night
3. What Did I Ever Give You?
4. Time Honoured Tradition
5. Caroline, Yes
6. Team Mate
7. Take My Temperature
2LP:
Side A
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
Side B
1. Born To Be A Dancer
2. Saturday Night
3. What Did I Ever Give You?
4. Time Honoured Tradition
5. Caroline, Yes
6. Team Mate
7. Take My Temperature
Side C
1. Less Is More
2. Wrecking Ball
3. Brightest Star
4. Not Surprised
5. Think About You (And I Like It)
6. Hard Times Send Me
7. Sink That Ship
Side D
1. The Letter Song
2. Seventeen Cups
3. It Ain’t Easy (Demo)
4. Run Again
5. People Need Light
6. Moon
7. Formative Years*
8. Don’t Get Me Wrong*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
3CD:
CD1
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
7. Born To Be A Dancer
8. Saturday Night
9. What Did I Ever Give You?
10. Time Honoured Tradition
11. Caroline, Yes
12. Team Mate
13. Take My Temperature
CD2
1. Wrecking Ball
2. Brightest Star
3. Not Surprised
4. Think About You And I Like You
5. Hard Times Send Me
6. Sink That Ship
7. Less Is More
8. The Letter Song
9. Seventeen Cups
10. It Ain’t Easy (Demo)
11. Run Again
12. People Need Light
13. Moon
14. Another Number
15. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
16. Modern Way (Rhythms Del Mundo Version)
17. You Can Have It All (Light Orchestral)
18. Oh My God (Demo)*
19. Born To Be A Dancer (Demo)
20. Caroline Yes (Demo)*
21. I Predict A Riot (Demo)*
22. Modern Way (Demo)*
23. Saturday Night (Demo)*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
CD3
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Spike Stent Remix)
2. I Predict A Riot (Spike Stent Remix)*
3. Na Na Na Na Naa (Polysics Remix)
4. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Boyz Noize Remix)
5. I Predict A Riot (Big Nurse Remix)*
6. Sink That Ship (BBC Radio 2 Session for Mark Radcliffe 17/10/2005)*
7. Modern Way (BBC Radio 2 Session for Mark Radcliffe 17/10/2005)*
8. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Live at The Mod Club, Toronto 29/05/2005)*
9. Hard Times Send Me (Live at the Academy, Birmingham 24/01/2005)*
10. Na Na Na Na Naa (Live at Glastonbury, Worthy Farm 25/06/2005)*
11. Oh My God (Live at Georg-Elser-Hallen, Munich 04/11/2005)
12. Born To Be A Dancer (Live at T In The Park, Kinross 10/07/2005)*
13. Saturday Night (Live at Joseph’s Well, Leeds 28/09/2003)*
14. Sink That Ship (Live at The Cockpit, Leeds 13/12/2004)
15. Take My Temperature (Live at the Fillmore, San Francisco 25/07/2005)
16. Time Honoured Tradition (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
17. Caroline, Yes (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
18. I Predict A Riot (Live at V Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford 20/08/2005)*
19. Take My Temperature (Live at Leeds Town Hall 11/05)*
20. Oh My God (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
Speaking to NME upon announcing their big ‘Employment’ gig in Leeds – where they’ll be joined by the likes of Razorlight, The Cribs and We Are Scientists – Kaiser Chiefs said they’d be “doing nostalgia properly” at the event.
“We wanted to try and focus in and make it like a celebration of 2005 or 2006-ish,” said bassist Simon Rix.
Wilson also teased that fans could expect “songs that we wouldn’t usually play” at Temple Newsam, and promised some onstage nods to the ‘Employment’ era. “The beard’s coming off and the eyeliner is going on,” the frontman told NME.
He also looked back on playing on the NME Tour and said he was “surprised” to learn that ‘Employment’ had won the Best Album prize at the NME Awards.
In addition to next week’s Leeds show, the Kaisers have dates scheduled for Port Talbot, Bristol, Edinburgh Castle, London’s Alexandra Palace Park, Brighton Beach and other locations as part of their 2025 outdoor ‘Employment’ tour. You can find any remaining tickets here.
They’ll also make appearances at various summer festivals, including Glastonbury, Latitude, Boardmasters and Kendal Calling.
The band’s latest full-length record, ‘Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album’, was released last year. Speaking to NME last October, Wilson revealed that he’d already “thought of a good title” for its follow-up. “It always starts with the title,” he added.
