Soul Train Music Awards 2021: Watch Silk Sonic Performances
The Soul Train Music Awards 2021 was lit up by two performances from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s new group, Silk Sonic. Hosted by Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell, the show celebrated the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. The show also featured performances by Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, Fred Hammond, Tone Stitch, Musiq Soulchild, Ashanti, Leon Bridges, ELHAE, Summer Walker and Maxwell. Silk Sonic were also honoured with the prestigious Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award for their hit Leave The Door Open, from their album An Evening With Silk Sonic. The duo peformed Smoking Out The Window and Fly As Me at the ceremony, also from the new album, in a homage to classic Soul Train performances of the 70s.
In terms of the awards, singer Jazmine Sullivan notched up two trophies by winning both Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and Album Of The Year for Heaux Tales. Normani won her first award for Best Dance Performance and gave praise to other female artists in her speech. Later, Ashanti was decorated with the Lady Of Soul Award before performing onstage with Ja Rule and Fat Joe. Maxwell emotionally accepted the Living Legend Award and thanked Don Cornelius and the R&B community during his acceptance speech.
An Evening With Silk Sonic has been a commercial success, entering the US albums chart at No. 2 on the albums chart with 104,000 equivalent album sales in its opening week. It marks the fourth US Top 10 album for Bruno Mars and the second top 10 – and highest-charting album yet – for Anderson .Paak, who previously peaked at No. 4 with 2019’s Ventura.
An Evening With Silk Sonic has spawned a trio of hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 – Smokin Out the Window (No 5), Skate (No 14), and Leave The Door Open, which hit No 1 for two weeks in April.