DETROIT – International singer and songwriter, Kem, decided to celebrate both his birthday and 35 years of sobriety in his hometown, Detroit.
Many of his supporters gathered on July 23 in Downtown Detroit at Spirit Plaza to honor Kem and the influence he’s had over the community.
During this celebration Kem recounted the time he struggled with addiction and the impact that has had over his life.
“I’ve been hospitalized because of my addiction; I’ve been in and out of jail because of my addiction,” Kem shared with his supporters.
City council member Mary Waters gave a speech to honor Kem and the inspiration his journey to sobriety has had over the city of Detroit.
“His journey from being homeless and addicted on the streets of Detroit to becoming an international multi-grammy nominated, 1.1 billion streaming artist is a testament to the resilience and talent that our city fosters,” Waters said.
At the end of her speech, Waters officially declared July 23, 2025, as “Kem Day” in honor of his influence, his birthday, and his many years of sobriety. Kem described this day to be monumental for him.
“There ain’t nothing like Detroit love,” Kem said. “My career was built on the love of this great city.”
Kem also took the time to give some words of advice and encouragement to anyone who may be struggling with addiction right now and trying to get to the road of sobriety.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” he said. “There are so many resources available in your community and online. If you want to get on the other side of your struggle with addiction, there’s help out there for you but you gotta go out there and get it.”