I'm going to preach, 'cause this is about soul.

If you're in a band with guitar(s), bass, drums and vocals:

Even though the writer(s), vocalist(s) and guitarist(s) are usually the band leaders, the drummer and the bassist have full charge of the rhythm. The drummer and the bassist don't play with the guitarist and the vocalist, the guitarist and the vocalist play with the drummer and the bassist. The rhythm section produces the "cool." The "cool" confidently says to the others, "Hey, we'll be right here, follow us or not, but we're not going anywhere, we'll be right here." If the vocalist and the guitarist feel they have to control the rhythm, everything usually suffers. The rhythm section produces the sandbox for the others to play in. And they don't take rhythm orders from anybody. The guitarist(s) and vocalist(s) usually write everything, but the drummer and bassist have to take ownership of the rhythm. Period. It's the only thing that matters in their job description. And... I'll stop now.

Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.