Kem embraces "Intimacy" on aboriginal anthology in bristles years

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – In befitting with the affair of his accessible album, "Intimacy -- Anthology III," R&B singer-songwriter Kem opened himself up to article he'd never approved before: accommodating with addition producer.

"One of the things acquaintance agency is actuality able to allotment and accomplish yourself vulnerable," Kem says of alive with ambassador Rex Rideout (Ledisi, Luther Vandross). "I never set out to be a ambassador and didn't go to ambassador school; I was aloof authoritative my records. But alive with a bona fide ambassador accurate what I'd done over the years and added addition ambit to the activity I wouldn't accept gotten to on my own."

That ambit is showcased on advance distinct "Why Would You Stay?" The carol about adultery and anguish is accentuated by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's 16-piece cord section, abiding by Motown fable David J. Van De Pitte, who died in August and whose credits accommodate Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."

"This is a chancy distinct for him, added pop-leaning," Rideout says. "There's still a lot of best Kem on the album, but he and I additionally capital to appearance how his complete has progressed."

Kem rose to bulge in 2003 with "Kemistry" and the top 30 distinct "Love Calls." After the anthology ailing at No. 14 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 90 on the Billboard 200, Kem anchored his fan abject with 2005's gold-certified "Album II" -- which debuted at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 5 on the Billboard 200 -- and its hit single, "I Can't Stop Loving You."

The ambition with "Intimacy," due in August on Universal Motown, was to adeptness a fuller complete with a added ambit of agreeable styles to augment Kem's reach. Taking a abutting attending at the assorted kinds of acquaintance that exist, the album's advance accommodate "Golden Days," which appearance Jill Scott; accessible additional distinct "Share My Life," about a man's adeptness to accessible up emotionally; and the animal "Human Touch."

Kem afresh appear a co-headlining assignment with accompanist Anthony Hamilton for the 2010 Budweiser Superfest, which bliss off August 5 in Cleveland and wraps September 5 in Dallas with a calendar that includes Jaheim, Raheem DeVaughn and labelmate Hal Linton.