1996 Soul Train Music Awards

• Patti LaBelle

• Boyz II Men

Winners are in bold text.

• D'Angelo – Brown Sugar
  • 'Michael Jackson' – HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
  • Quincy Jones – Q's Jook Joint
  • Brian McKnight – I Remember You

• Mary J. Blige – My Life
  • Mariah Carey – Daydream
  • Faith Evans – Faith
  • Monica – Miss Thang

• TLC – CrazySexyCool
  • Jodeci – The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
  • Solo – Solo
  • Xscape – Off the Hook

• D'Angelo – "Brown Sugar"
  • Michael Jackson – "You Are Not Alone"
  • Montell Jordan – "This Is How We Do It"
  • Seal – "Kiss from a Rose"

• Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  • Mary J. Blige – "I'm Going Down"
  • Brandy – "Brokenhearted"
  • Monica – "Like This and Like That" / "Before You Walk Out of My Life"

• TLC – "Waterfalls"
  • Boyz II Men – "Water Runs Dry"
  • Groove Theory – "Tell Me"
  • Jodeci – "Love U 4 Life"

• The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance"
  • Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
  • Method Man (featuring Mary J. Blige) – "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By"
  • TLC – "Waterfalls"

• TLC – "Waterfalls"
  • Coolio (featuring L.V.) – "Gangsta's Paradise"
  • Dr. Dre – "Keep Their Heads Ringin'"
  • Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – "Scream"

• D'Angelo
  • Faith Evans
  • Junior M.A.F.I.A.
  • Monica

• 2Pac – Me Against The World
  • Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
  • Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise
  • Method Man – Tical

• Fourplay – Elixir
  • Boney James – Seduction
  • Keiko Matsui – Sapphire
  • Pat Metheny Group – We Live Here

• The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee – Show Up
  • Yolanda Adams – More Than a Melody
  • Shirley Caesar – He Will Come
  • Kirk Franklin and the Family – Kirk Franklin and the Family

• LL Cool J – "Doin' It"
• TLC and Craig Mack – "Kick Your Game"
• Anita Baker
• Mary J. Blige – "Not Gon' Cry"
• Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy and Faith Evans – "One More Chance" and "Get Money"
• Patti LaBelle tribute:
  • Ronald Isley, Rachelle Ferrell, Peabo Bryson and Tamia – "If Only You Knew"
• Yolanda Adams
• Al Green – "Love and Happiness"
• Brandy – "Sittin' Up in My Room"
• Patti LaBelle
• The Braxtons and Jay-Z – "So Many Ways"