Conventional wisdom tells us that it’s best not to meet your idols. Not only are they likely to be infinitely less cool in the flesh, chances are you’ll make a faux pas so embarrassing that you’ll inwardly cringe every time your mind flits back to the occasion.

Not ones to follow traditional guidelines, however, Vancouver electronic dance duo the Funk Hunters chose to disregard that advice. On the cusp of completing a new song in Germany in late 2014, Duncan Smith and Nick Middleton had a discussion about who they most wanted to rap over the track.

After their childhood hero Chali 2na topped both of their wish lists, the pair got in touch with the Jurassic 5 star’s management. To their surprise, 2na was in.

“Chali’s collaborated with more artists than I’ve ever seen before,” Smith tells the Straight on the line from the ferry to Vancouver Island. “When we approached him to make that first track, he was already looking to do something a bit more on the electronic side, so obviously we were stoked for that.

“When we went out on the road with him for the very first tour, we were more than a little nervous. But Chali’s a very humble and genuine guy, so we became close quickly. We’ve developed a professional friendship, I’d call it.”

Like all good creative partnerships, that association has continued beyond the Funk Hunters’ time on the road. After touching down in Vancouver, Smith and Middleton headed back into the studio to work on new material and craft their latest EP, ILLectric. Characteristically fusing a number of different genres, the five-track collection encompasses everything from the soft trap rhythms of “Oh Shit” to the highly danceable drum ’n’ bass beat on the album’s final track, “Right Right Up”.

The project impressed 2na so much that he chose to lend his rich baritone raps to the entire EP—and agreed to join the duo on tour once again.

“Our process since day one has been setting the Funk Hunters apart, and trying to figure out ways in which we can be more unique,” Smith says. “That’s especially true of our shows. I think having live musicians alongside us DJing just adds so much.

“You can only watch someone standing behind a laptop so many times, so it’s important to have a range of instruments and vocalists performing up there with us. We have guitars, saxophonists, trumpets, percussion, and MCs, and those configurations are constantly changing for each concert.

“It adds a lot more feeling to the show and performance—and having Chali definitely adds to that vibe.

“That being said,” he continues, “we’re definitely the ones curating the shows this time around. Unlike some of the tours that we’ve done with Chali in the past where it’s been more of a split or hybrid concert, this is definitely our show, where we’re getting him up there to perform some of the new material we’ve done together.”

Heading out on a six-date road trip themed as Funk the Halls, the duo is excited to pack the stage with as many musicians as possible when it returns to Vancouver for its festive hometown show.

“Both the Christmas concerts we did last year were such a success that we thought that we wanted to keep it going, and make it bigger. It’s a great time of year to return to the city—we haven’t played a show here in a year—so we’re super stoked for it. Our best performances are always in Vancouver.”

The Funk Hunters play the Commodore Ballroom on Wednesday and Thursday (December 21 and 22).