Kem on Faith, Sobriety and Why His Music Is Really a Ministry

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Kem finally pulls up. The Detroit-born, Georgia-based R&B icon behind Love Calls, I Can’t Stop Loving You, Share My Life, Matter of Time and last year’s number one album Rock With Me joins hosts Phillionaire, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York, and Tamone Bacon for the most honest, spiritually grounded conversation of the season. Kem shares the story behind writing Matter of Time on a piano at the Detroit Rescue Mission, the American Express business line of credit that financed his self-released debut Chemistry, the grassroots CDs-in-the-barbershop hustle that got him to Kedar Massenburg and Motown, and the 36 years of sobriety he’ll celebrate this July. 

He also drops brand new news: a Robert Glasper jazz project is on the way later this year, his fifth daughter Reign was born just a few weeks ago, and he confirms the Kem story is being adapted for TV, film and theater. Along the way he calls himself Sade’s male counterpart, weighs in on Luther versus Teddy, pays tribute to the late Peabo Bryson (the original auntie whisperer), talks Robert Glasper, gives Kedar Massenburg the show’s Black Excellence Award, weighs in on AI as the illusion of perfection, and reminds everybody that his music is really a ministry. Press play for one of the most beloved voices in modern R&B, testifying in his own words.

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Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!

Director: John Dierre 

Camera Op: Josh Sowemimo, James Hart, John Dierre 

Editing Team: Hyyer Creative

Producer: Aaron Walton

Sound Mixer: Derrick Chin

Assistant: Brittany Guydon 

Talent Producer: Isaac Hamm III 

Photography: Ah’meer Holt 

PA: Kaye Brasley, Tony Cole

Thank you to all of our listeners, as well as our partners at Visit Music City.

Special thanks to Kem!

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