Sounds of Blackness Will Release Get Off Ya Hands & Vote

The Grammy-winning group debuts its latest track on October 9, 2026, to encourage civic engagement.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in R&B

Sounds of Blackness Will Release Get Off Ya Hands & Vote

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Minneapolis-based group Sounds of Blackness is set to release its new song, Get Off Ya Hands & Vote, on October 9, 2026. The track serves as a call for Americans to exercise their voting rights and draws inspiration from civil rights activist John Lewis.

Why it matters

The release aims to use music as a catalyst for civic participation by blending gospel, jazz, and R&B styles. It builds on the group's legacy of using art to address social movements and contemporary public issues.

The group holds three Grammy Awards and previously released the single WOKE in 2023. Promotional efforts for the upcoming digital release are currently targeting urban and gospel radio formats.

The players

Sounds of Blackness

This Minneapolis-based musical ensemble is a three-time Grammy Award-winning group known for blending gospel, jazz, and R&B.

Gary D. Hines

He is the songwriter, producer, and arranger for the group's new track.

John Lewis

He was a prominent civil rights activist and American politician who serves as the inspiration for the song.

Artisha Knight-Milon

She provides vocal performances for the new recording.

Quan Howell

He is a vocalist featured on the upcoming track.

The details

Gary D. Hines wrote, produced, and arranged the song, which features vocal performances from Artisha Knight-Milon and Quan Howell. Recording, mixing, and mastering were conducted by Karl Demer at Atomic K Studios, with additional work by Todd Fitzgerald at Evergreen Studios.

September 30, 2026: The group announced the new song release.
October 9, 2026: The song is scheduled for digital release.
2023: The group released the single WOKE.

Industry Dynamics

This release follows the precedent set by the 2023 release of WOKE in continuing the group's tradition of releasing socially conscious music. It highlights the ongoing trend of legacy R&B acts utilizing digital distribution to maintain relevance in current cultural conversations.

Listeners can access the new song across digital platforms starting on the October 9, 2026 release date. The track will also be featured on various urban and gospel radio stations for broad accessibility.

The takeaway

Music remains a powerful medium for mobilizing communities around voting and political participation. Audiences can look to artists to continue drawing on historical figures and social themes to frame their latest creative projects.