The partnership of R&B hitmakers Kem and Toni Braxton pays dividends as their collaboration “Live out Your Love” rises 2-1 to lead Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs airplay chart dated Jan. 2, 2021. The track, billed to Kem featuring Braxton, ascends despite suffering a 7% drop in plays in the week ending Dec. 27, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

The new champ dethrones Chris Brown and Young Thug’s “Go Crazy,” which slips to No. 2 after one week in charge.

“Live” secures Kem’s seventh No. 1 on the Adult R&B Songs chart and gives the singer-songwriter his second consecutive leader, after “Lie to Me” reigned for seven weeks in June – August. The combo No. 1s makes for Kem’s second time posting back-to-back chart champs, following his double play of “It’s You” (four weeks in 2014) and “Nobody” (nine weeks, 2015).

Here’s a look at Kem’s full No. 1 collection on the chart:

Song Title, Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Love Calls,” two, Sept. 13, 2003
“I Can’t Stop Loving You,” seven, May 21, 2005
“Why Would You Stay?,” two, Sept. 25, 2010
“It’s You,” four, Sept. 6, 2014
“Nobody,” nine, Feb. 21, 2015
“Lie to Me,” seven, June 27, 2020
“Live out Your Love,” featuring Toni Braxton, one (to date), Jan. 2, 2021

Plus, with seven No. 1s, Kem matches the totals of R. Kelly and Maxwell for the second-most among male artists since the chart began in 1992. The trio trail only Charlie Wilson in that count, who owns eight.

Alicia Keys leads the pack for all artists, with 11 No. 1s on the radio ranking.

But she also has competition. With “Love,” featured artist Toni Braxton banks her 10th leader on Adult R&B Songs, moving within one of Keys’ record.

Here’s a look at the full leaderboard:

11, Alicia Keys
10, Toni Braxton
8, Charlie Wilson
7, R. Kelly
7, Kem
7, Maxwell
6, Mary J. Blige
6, Whitney Houston
6, Brian McKnight
6, Usher
6, Luther Vandross

It’s possible, though the odds are slimming, that the contest between Braxton and Keys could renew soon. Both singers currently have singles in the Adult R&B Songs top 10 – Keys’ “Show Me Love,” featuring Khalid, and Braxton’s “Gotta Move On,” featuring H.E.R. – though the tracks are retreating from the pole position. On the current list, Keys slides 7-9, while Braxton similarly backtracks two spots, 8-10, with both enduring 16% tumbles in airplay.

Part of the slide, however, comes from the adult R&B radio format’s general shift toward holiday music in the past weeks. As that play will likely vanish in the next tracking week (Dec. 28 – Jan. 3), one or both songs may rebound and restart their ascents.

Alto Reed, the longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, died Wednesday (Dec. 30) after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 72.

“It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our lifelong friend and band mate, Alto Reed,” Seger wrote in a social media tribute to his former bandmate. “Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years.”

Born Thomas Neal Cartmell on May 16, 1948, the gifted Detroit musician began playing with Seger in 1971 before joining the Silver Bullet Band three years later. He’s widely recognized for his saxophone solo in “Turn the Page” from the band’s Back in ’72 album, and “Old Time Rock and Roll” from Stranger in Town, the latter of which became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 and soundtracked an iconic scene in Tom Cruise’s 1983 film Risky Business.

“No doubt his iconic performance on ‘Turn the Page’ helped lift us to another level. He has been with us on that stage virtually every show, ever since,” continued Seger, who gave Reed his stage name after being inspired by the alias used in Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. “And whether it was ‘Turn the Page,’ ‘Mainstreet,’ or ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ audiences roared every time he played his part. In our band, Alto was the rock star.”

As a member of Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Reed won a 1980 Grammy for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for Against the Wind. The group’s fourth studio album topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks in the spring of 1980. It was their only No. 1 album.

Aside from his work with the Silver Bullet Band, Reed performed alongside Grand Funk Railroad, Ted Nugent, Little Feat, Foghat, Dave Mason, Spencer Davis, the Blues Brothers, George Thorogood, Robin Gibb and the Motor City Horns. He co-led the Reed & Dickinson Band with Steve Dickinson and released an album together titled Tonight We Ride. 

He is survived by his children, Chelsea Reed Radler and her husband Jon Radler and Victoria Reed and her husband Erik Deutsch; his grandson Harry Radler; his partner Christiana Van Ryn; his stepdaughter Sophia Van Ryn; his ex-wife Monica Reed; and his sister Nancy Neumann.

In lieu of flowers, Reed’s family requested that fans, friends and others donate in his name to Detroit Symphony’s Detroit Harmony Fund, which aims to place an instrument in the hands of every student in his hometown. They also encouraged people to regularly screen for colon cancer and learn about other preventative methods.

“His skillfulness, dedication and brilliance as an artist and performer made him a hero not only to us, but to thousands of others, if not millions,” Chelsea and Victoria wrote as part of his family’s statement. “He lived for the stage and most importantly, his role for nearly 50 years in the Silver Bullet Band with his musical family; Bob, Craig, Chris, and so many other talented musicians who played alongside him. We are truly comforted in knowing that his spirit will shine brightly on through the music that he has left behind, and the impression that he’s had on so many souls in concert.”

Diddy helped Miami residents amid the coronavirus crisis on Tuesday (Dec. 29), handing out $50 bills to a massive crowd in Overtown neighborhood, according to The Associated Press.

The star wore a clear face shield and black gloves as he moved through the crowd with his children. Besides the cash, the group also handed out $50 Publix supermarket gift cards and bags containing hygiene products,

Diddy’s charity foundation is also working with festival and nightlife organizer Michael Gardner and the local Teens Exercising Extraordinary Success group to help provide rental assistance for families in Miami.

The act of generosity is hardly Diddy’s first coronavirus relief effort. Back in April, he hosted “the world’s biggest dance-a-thon” to raise money for healthcare workers in underserved communities around the country. The fundraiser featured appearances by Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, Shaq, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Kelly Rowland, Maluma and more.

See a clip via NBC6 South Florida below.