After reading your post recommending similar bands to a young innocent funk
fledgling, I feel I must congratulate you on your taste you are obviously a
young lady "in the know". However I feel that if you are to fully appreciate
the genre we all know and love you must first appreciate it's roots. We
should introduce the young man to the labels and artist that began it all.
Example

Blue Note from the late sixties, early seventies
Blaxploitaion Soundtracks (Superfly, Cleopatra Jones, Coffy, etc...)
The Godfather of Jazz Funk - Mr Roy Ayres
Gil Scott Heron
Curtis Mayfield
Leroy Huston

The list could go on and on.