Heritage Award for Career Achievement edit

• Michael Jackson

Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year edit

• Michael Jackson

Winners are in bold text.

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

• Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel
  • George Michael – Faith (George Michael album)
  • Al B. Sure – In Effect Mode
  • Luther Vandross – Any Love

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

• Anita Baker – Giving You the Best That I Got
  • Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
  • Sade – Stronger Than Pride
  • Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff

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

• New Edition – Heart Break
  • Guy – Guy
  • LeVert – Just Coolin'
  • Tony! Toni! Toné! – Who?

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Male edit

• Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative"
  • Terence Trent D'Arby – "Wishing Well"
  • Keith Sweat (featuring Jacci McGhee) – "Make It Last Forever"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Female edit

• Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got"
  • Whitney Houston – "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
  • Karyn White – "Superwoman"
  • Vanessa Williams – "The Right Stuff"
• Note: This segment of the awards ceremony is most memorable due to the fact that when Whitney Houston's name was called, the crowd began to boo her, citing the idea that Houston was "acting white" and was a "sell-out".

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

• E.U. – "Da Butt"
  • Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – "It Takes Two"
  • Guy – "Groove Me"
  • New Edition – "Can You Stand the Rain"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year edit

• Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got"
  • Bobby Brown – "Don't Be Cruel"
  • Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • Keith Sweat – "I Want Her"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Music Video edit

• Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – "Parents Just Don't Understand"
  • Kool Moe Dee – "Wild Wild West"
  • Terence Trent D'Arby – "Wishing Well"

Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist edit

• Al B. Sure!
  • Guy
  • Karyn White
  • BeBe & CeCe Winans

Best Rap Album edit

• DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince – He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
  • Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two
  • Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
  • Salt-N-Pepa – A Salt with a Deadly Pepa

Best Gospel Album edit

• Take 6 – Take 6
  • Shirley Caesar – Live in Chicago
  • The Clark Sisters – Conqueror
  • James Cleveland – Inspired

Best Jazz Album edit

• Kenny G – Silhouette
  • Bobby McFerrin – Simple Pleasures
  • Najee – Day by Day
  • Sade – Stronger Than Pride

• Ashford & Simpson
• Sheena Easton – "The Lover in Me"
• Levert and Heavy D & The Boyz – "Just Coolin'"
• Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative"
• Patti LaBelle – "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
• Dionne Warwick
• New Edition and Rob Base – "Crucial"
• Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, Thelma Houston, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Vickie Winans and The Winans – "Lean on Me"