Lady of Soul Award
Xscape united four show-stopping voices and powerhouse personalities as one R&B force of nature unlike anything the world had seen, heard, or felt before. The iconic Georgia quartet—“Kandi” Burruss-Tucker, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott—have sold millions of records, notched six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts, packed arenas across the country, and inspired generations of artists. Their influence can be felt throughout the culture with instantly recognizable smashes such as “Just Kickin’ It,” “Who Can I Run Into,” and “My Little Secret'' across a trio of platinum-certified albums—Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha, Off the Hook, and Traces of My Lipstick. Beyond gracing the soundtracks of box office hits The Mask, Big Momma’s House, Hardball, Love Jones, and Soul Food, their music is sampled in 21st-century bangers by the likes of 21 Savage, Summer Walker, Anderson .Paak, The Game, Trey Songz, and more. After launching successful and prolific solo careers in music, film, fashion, business, and beyond, Xscape returned to ignite audiences everywhere on The Great Xscape Tour in 2017, selling out 31 cities. They also starred in BRAVO series Xscape Still Kickin’ It and participated in one of the most-viewed VERZUZ specials of all time, squaring off against SWV. Maintaining this momentum, 2022 saw them light up Mary J. Blige’s inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival.
Legend Award
Morris Day went to school with Prince Rogers Nelson and sang in Grand Central, Prince’s first band. While Prince grew as an artist, so did the opportunities around him. The Time was originally created as Prince’s alter ego to be seen as the cool, streetwise funk band contrasting Prince’s more soulful R&B sound. After considering several lead vocalists, Prince ended up picking his high school friend -- the funky and fabulous Morris Day. Soon after, Morris Day and The Time were cast in 1984's "Purple Rain," which captures the Minneapolis music scene at its peak.
Day burst onto the scene with the group’s self-titled 1981 album, "The Time," which includes the hit tracks “Get It Up,” “Cool,” and “Girl.” The group went on to record three more albums, including 1982's "What Time Is It?," featuring the hits “777-9311,” “Wild and Loose,” “Walk,” and “Gigolos Get Lonely Too” and 1984's "Ice Cream Castle," which includes the monster hit “Jungle Love." In 1985, Day launched his solo career, releasing three albums through the early 90s: "Color Of Success," "Daydreaming," and "Guaranteed." Combined sales of Day’s body of work exceeds 10 million units. Day is releasing his final album, "Last Call," on November 11, 2022, with an eye on retiring at the end of 2023.