Ashanti News

(2/4/03, 7 a.m. ET) -- R&B singers Ashanti and Amerie led the list of nominees for the 17th Annual Soul Train Music Awards when the nominees were announced on Monday (February 3) in Beverly Hills, California. Each singer earned three nods, and the two will face off against each other in the best female R&B/soul single and best female R&B/soul album categories. Ashanti was also nominated in the R&B/soul or rap album of the year category, while Amerie got an additional nod in best R&B/soul or rap new artist category.

Several artists--including B2K, Justin Timberlake, Musiq, Nelly, and Floetry--earned nominations in two categories. In addition, Nelly is slated to receive the 2003 Sammy Davis Jr. Award for entertainer of the year, while LL Cool J and Dionne Warwick will both receive the 2003 Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment.

The 17th Annual Soul Train Awards will take place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on March 1. The event will be hosted by Queen Latifah and Arsenio Hall. Some of the scheduled performers include Mariah Carey, Nelly, LL Cool J, and Justin Timberlake.

Don Cornelius, executive producer of the Soul Train Music Awards, shared what differentiates this award show from others. "It focuses on soul music specifically, as opposed to, you know, soul music being an after-thought or a secondary invite to the party," Cornelius said. "What makes it stand out? The same thing that made Soul Train different from American Bandstand."

2003 SOUL TRAIN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

BEST R&B/ SOUL SINGLE, FEMALE:

"Why Don't We Fall In Love" - Amerie

"Foolish" - Ashanti

"Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)" - Erykah Badu featuring Common

"Little Things" - India.Arie

BEST R&B/SOUL SINGLE, MALE:

"This Woman's Work" - Maxwell

"Dontchange" - Musiq

"Like I Live You" - Justin Timberlake

"U Don't Have To Call" - Usher

BEST R&B/SOUL SINGLE, GROUP, BAND, OR DUO:

"Bump, Bump, Bump" - B2K featuring P. Diddy

"I Should Be..." - Dru Hil

"Floetic" - Floetry

"Girl Talk" - TLC

BEST R&B/ SOUL ALBUM, FEMALE:

All I Have - Amerie

Ashanti - Ashanti

No More Drama 2002 - Mary J. Blige

Mahogany Soul - Angie Stone

BEST R&B/SOUL ALBUM, MALE:

Still Ghetto - Jaheim

The G Spot - Gerald Levert Juslisen - Musiq

Justified - Justin Timberlake

BEST R&B/SOUL ALBUM, GROUP, BAND, OR DUO:

B2K - B2K

Full Circle - Boyz II Men Floetic - Floetry

Best Of Both Worlds - R. Kelly & Jay-Z

R&B/SOUL OR RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Ashanti - Ashanti

10 - LL Cool J

Stillmatic - Nas Nellyville - Nelly

BEST R&B/SOUL OR RAP NEW ARTIST:

"Why Don't We Fall In Love" - Amerie

"He Is" - Heather Headley

"Awnaw" - Nappy Roots

"Oops (Oh My)" - Tweet

THE MICHAEL JACKSON AWARD FOR BEST R&B/SOUL OR RAP MUSIC VIDEO:

"Wanksta" - 50 Cent

"Work It" - Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott

"Dilemma" - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland

"Pass The Courvoisier Pt. 2" - Busta Rhymes

feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell Williams

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM:

Walking By Faith - The Canton Spirituals

The Rebirth Of Kirk Franklin - Kirk Franklin

Go Get Your Life Back - Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers

Family Affair II - Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir

-- Yves Erwin Salomon, New York