Dam-Funk and Illa J both regularly walk the wavy line between dusty, crooked hip-hop and modern funk--and they've both just released their best work date. The former is celebrating the runaway success of Invite The Light, which saw the Stones Throw funkateer colliding with Q- Tip, Snoop Dogg, Junie Morrison and Leon Sylvers III. The latter has just this past week released his self-titled LP, produced entirely by the Canadian duo Potatohead People. To put it plainly, you'd be hard-pressed to find two artists operating at funkier frequencies than Illa J and Dam-Funk. And BamaLoveSoul knows it better than any of us.

BLS host and mastermind DJ Rahdu had the two geniuses in for some heart-to-heart conversation on his most recent installment of the Diamond Soul XXXperience show, teasing some brilliant insights out of both. Just how hard was it for Dam-Funk to stay true to himself as he carved out an artistic identity? What did it take for Illa to both professionally and personally come out from under his brother's shadow? What do we have to look forward to in the future projects of both? The answers await you in the interview below. Better take some notes.