Amaarae's Sad Girlz Luv Money in Soul Train 2020s Poll

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Amaarae and Moliy's breakout hit "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY" is in the running for a place among the defining R&B songs of the decade. The track is one of 64 songs in BET's fan poll for "20 of the Greatest R&B Songs of the 2020s", part of the 2026 Soul Train Awards, The Vaultz News reports. The nod is a fresh moment for a song that first came out six years ago and went on to become one of the biggest crossover records from Ghana 's new wave. How the poll works BET is letting fans choose which tracks best represent R&B so far this decade. According to Hot 96.9 Boston, the 64 songs are listed alphabetically by title, and fans can vote once every 24 hours, picking up to 20 songs each time. Key dates Pool: 64 songs Votes: once every 24 hours, up to 20 picks per ballot Voting closes: October 16 Reveal: the ranked top 20 on November 27 Where: The Soul Train Awards Red Carpet Show: Back on Track, streaming on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch Ceremony: airs afterwards on BET and CBS, 8pm ET/PT The Soul Train Awards have celebrated soul, R&B and gospel since 1987. The Vaultz News adds that this year's show also introduces new fan-voted categories, R&B/Soul Song of the Year and Spotify's RNB X International Artist. The story of the song The original "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY" appeared on Amaarae's debut album The Angel You Don't Know in November 2020, featuring Moliy. A remix with Kali Uchis followed on September 16, 2021, and TikTok dance challenges pushed it to a global audience. Chart record Billboard Hot 100: No. 80, making Amaarae and Moliy the first Ghanaian women to enter the chart UK Singles Chart: No. 29 Billboard Global 200: No. 26 Certified Platinum in the US and Canada Amaarae, born Ama Serwah Genfi in the Bronx, was raised between the United States and Ghana. Her blend of alté, R&B and Afropop has made her one of the most distinctive voices in African music. Strong African presence in the pool She is far from the only African act in contention. The Vaultz News says the pool also includes songs by Tems, Wizkid , Rema, CKay and Tyla . Hot 96.9 Boston notes that Tems expanded the genre's boundaries with her releases from Nigeria. Tems has a strong Soul Train year more broadly, as we reported in her two fan-voted nominations . The poll also features big American names. Hot 96.9 Boston points to the likes of SZA, Silk Sonic, Victoria Monét and Coco Jones among the songs listed. Why fan voting matters here Soul Train has served as a living record of Black music since Don Cornelius brought the show to national television in 1971, Hot 96.9 Boston writes. A fan-driven ranking fits that mission, because the tracks that endure are the ones people keep coming back to. For a song that grew through TikTok and word of mouth rather than a big launch, a fan vote is a natural test. How Amaarae got here The song's path was slow and steady. It arrived on a debut album in late 2020, found a second life through the Kali Uchis remix almost a year later, and then spread through short-form video until it reached the Hot 100, the UK Top 40 and the Global 200. Its Platinum certifications in the US and Canada show it outlasted the viral moment. That history makes it a good fit for a poll about the decade's lasting R&B songs. Amaarae and Moliy are competing for one of only 20 places out of 64, alongside songs that won Grammys and topped US charts. Fans in Ghana and across the diaspora will need to vote daily to push it into the final ranking. What's next Fans have until October 16 to vote. The final top 20 will be counted down on November 27 on the red-carpet stream, before the Soul Train Awards air on BET and CBS. We will report whether "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY" makes the cut when the list is revealed. Sources: The Vaultz News | Hot 96.9 Boston