As the drummer and, eventually, lead singer for the legendary Dayton combo Slave, Steve Arrington played a significant role in shaping the history of funk — and, thanks to producers’ penchant for sampling the band, his music has been foundational to hip-hop as well. He’s still making active contributions to that lineage; Arrington released a collaborative album with Dam-Funk in 2013 and a vault-clearing compilation called WAY OUT (80-84) in 2014, and as recently as this year he appeared on Thundercat’s “Black Qualls” alongside Childish Gambino and Steve Lacy. But he hasn’t released a proper solo album since Pure Thang, the 2009 comeback LP he released after taking two decades off to work as a minister.
Arrington will finally follow that album up this fall with a new full-length called Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions. Crafted with producers like Knxwledge and Jerry Paper under the guidance of Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf, the set supposedly realizes a vision Arrington first conceived of decades ago. Our latest preview is “Keep Dreamin’,” a squelching, floating delight produced by Shibo. (Per Arrington, “he has a fat, soulful groove that I like and he’s cool peoples, too.”)
Listen below, where you can hear the previously released “The Joys Of Love” too.
TRACKLIST:
01 “The Joys Of Love”
(Prod. Mndsgn & Devin Morrison)
02 “Make A Difference
” (Prod. DJ Harrison)
03 “Soulful
I Need That In My Life” (Prod. Jamma D)
04 “Keep Dreamin
’” (Prod. Shibo)
05 “Love Knows
” (Prod. Brian Ellis)
06 “My Favorite Swing” (Prod. Apifera)
07 “Good Mood” (Prod. Jerry Paper)
08 “Love Is Gone
” (Prod. Knxwledge)
09 “Work On It
” (Prod. Shibo)
10 “You’re Not Ready” (Prod. Gifted & Blessed)
11 “Make Ya Say Yie” (Prod. Knxwledge)
12 “All I Wanna Do” (Prod. J.Rocc)
13 “It’s Alright” (Prod. Benedek)
Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions is out 9/18 on Stones Throw.
