Kem and Toni Braxton make securing hit after hit on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart look easy. “Live Out Your Love,” the soothing duet lifted from the former R&B veteran’s chart-topping new album Love Always Wins, caps this tracking week (October 17) inside the top 10 of the respective chart.
This is Kem’s 13th top 10 single on the Adult R&B chart, while Braxton has 19 to her credit. Of those 13 hits, Kem has seen incredible duet success with two other singles: “My Favorite Thing” with Ron Isley in 2014 (No. 5) and “If It’s Love” featuring Chrisette Michele from 2011 (No. 3).
Meanwhile, Braxton’s only had one other collaboration to scale the top 10, which was the Babyface-assisted “Hurt You” from their Grammy-winning joint album Love, Marriage & Divorce. It peaked at No. 1 in 2013. She almost earned one four years prior when “Yesterday” featuring Trey Songz neared the top 10 at No. 11, respectively.
When asked about the inspiration behind the song, Kem told Rated R&B it’s reminiscent of music by Marvin Gaye, “It’s got a Marvin-esque vibe to it and I’m doing some of the classic Marvin licks just to pay homage, not to try to emulate but just pay respect to that genre and legacy.”
In June, Kem claimed his sixth chart leader on the Adult R&B for “Lie To Me,” the lead single from his latest album.
Braxton, who released Spell My Name, a solid new album, secured her ninth number one record on the same chart for “Do It” in August. The LP includes the slow burn “Gotta Move On” featuring H.E.R. and the upbeat breakup anthem “Dance.”
