Steve Arrington has dropped his new single “Make A Difference.” The track, off his forthcoming release Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions, drops on September 18, via Stones Throw Records. Arrington got his start behind the drums in the group Slave in the ‘70s, but he’s perhaps most known as the lead singer of their classic ‘80s funk songs “Watching You” and “Just A Touch Of Love”. Going solo in ‘83 brought on even more success before Steve left the secular music world for almost two decades to devote himself to spiritual work in the ministry in ‘91. He returned to music in 2009 with Pure Thang and his debut on Stones Throw, Higher (2013) was produced in collaboration with Dam-Funk.

Numerous artists have drawn from Steve’s influences, with his samples included in songs by Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharrell, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, and N.W.A. to name a few. Throughout the 2010s, Steve featured on tracks by Snoop, Kool Moe Dee, and fellow living legend George Clinton. Earlier this year, Steve appeared on Thundercat’s “Black Qualls”, from his LP It Is What It Is.

Produced by DJ Harrison, “Make a Difference” addresses “the current state of things in this country”, in Arrington’s words. He elaborates: “As far as the racial tensions… so much of it is being promoted by politicians with agendas. And you have movements like Black Lives Matter, and different races coming together to say: ‘We’re not going back. We’re not stepping back into the forties and fifties.’ This song speaks to that. The great John Lewis — the message that he left for us all, to understand and move forward, not making a difference just for a few months, but for a lifetime of living.”

Steve Arrington
Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions
Stones Throw

1. The Joys Of Love
 (prod. Mndsgn, Devin Morrison)
2. Make A Difference
 (prod. DJ Harrison)
3. Soulful
 I Need That In My Life (prod. Jamma D)
4. Keep Dreamin
’ (prod. Shibo)
5. Love Knows
 (prod. Brian Ellis)
6. My Favorite Swing (prod. Apifera)
7. Good Mood (prod. Jerry Paper)
8. Love Is Gone
 (prod. Knxwledge)
9. 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)