The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards aired live on March 12, 1991 (and was later syndicated in other areas), honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was hosted by Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.

Special awards

Heritage Award for Career Achievement

• Smokey Robinson

Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year

• M.C. Hammer

Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold text.

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Male

• Johnny Gill – Johnny Gill
  • Al B. Sure! – Private Times...and the Whole 9!
  • MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
  • Keith Sweat – I'll Give All My Love to You

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Female

• Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
  • Anita Baker – Compositions
  • Michel'le – Michel'le
  • Lisa Stansfield – Affection

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Group, Band, or Duo

• Bell Biv Devoe – Poison
  • En Vogue – Born to Sing
  • Tony! Toni! Toné! – The Revival
  • The Whispers – More of the Night

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Male

• Johnny Gill – "My, My, My"
  • Babyface – "Whip Appeal"
  • MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This"
  • James Ingram – "I Don't Have the Heart"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Female

• Mariah Carey – "Vision of Love"
  • Anita Baker – "Talk to Me"
  • Janet Jackson – "Alright"
  • Lisa Stansfield – "All Around the World"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Group, Band or Duo

• En Vogue – "Hold On"
  • After 7 – "Ready or Not"
  • Bell Biv DeVoe – "Poison"
  • Quincy Jones (featuring El DeBarge, Al B Sure!, James Ingram and Barry White) – "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year

• MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This"
  • Mariah Carey – "Vision of Love"
  • En Vogue – "Hold On"
  • Johnny Gill – "My, My, My"

Best Music Video

• Janet Jackson – "Alright"
  • En Vogue – "Hold On"
  • MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This"
  • Public Enemy – "911 Is a Joke"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist

• Mariah Carey
  • Oleta Adams
  • En Vogue
  • Vanilla Ice

Best Rap Album

• MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
  • Ice Cube – Amerikkka's Most Wanted
  • LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
  • Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet

Best Gospel Album

• The Winans – Return
  • Commissioned – State of Mind
  • Tramaine Hawkins – Live
  • Take 6 – So Much to Say

Best Jazz Album

• Najee – Tokyo Blue
  • Anita Baker – Compositions
  • Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard – Music from Mo Better Blues
  • Take 6 – So Much to Say

Performers

• Johnny Gill – "Rub You the Right Way"
• Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity"
• Bell Biv DeVoe – "She's Dope!"
• En Vogue – "Hold On"
• LL Cool J – "Around the Way Girl"
• Smokey Robinson Tribute:
  • Luther Vandross – "Since I Lost My Baby"
  • Patti LaBelle – "Baby, Baby"
  • Gladys Knight – "The Tracks of My Tears"
• MC Hammer – Medley: "Let's Get It Started" / "Turn This Mutha Out" / "Here Comes the Hammer"
• Najee
• Teddy Pendergrass
• Dionne Warwick