MUSIC and film fans will soon be able to delve into the story of rap's great lost album.

Hustlers Convention, by Bolton filmmaker Mike Todd, will premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest on Sunday, ahead of its general release on June 26.

The album, regarded as a cornerstone in the evolution of hip hop, was created by Lightnin’ Rod, aka Jalal Nuriddin of The Last Poets, affectionately known in some circles as The Grandfather of Rap for his contribution to the genre.

Although it was sampled by the Wu Tang Clan, Beastie Boys and Nas, as well as lauded by Melle Mel, Chuck D and Grandmaster Flash, it never achieved mainstream impact.

Father-of-two Mr Todd, who lived in Bromley Cross as a youngster, said: "The story of Jalal and Hustlers Convention is a missing piece of cultural history.

"It’s fantastic that so many people have supported this project and made it possible for us to get this film out there.”

The film is executive produced by Public Enemy’s Chuck D, who came on board after seeing Mr Todd's 2011 film, Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears which told the story of the Olympic and heavyweight champion boxer's life and career and the demise of his iconic Philadelphia gym.

Hustlers Convention is described as an epic rhymed story of a fast-talking hustler called Sport — a street tale of card sharks, gamblers, dope pedlars and thieves that changed the face of music.

The project will tell of the life and times of Jalal and document how, when his street rhyming style based on the African American jail toast tradition met the black power politics of the post-Malcolm X era, the art of rap as we know it today was born.

The film includes interviews with some of the key figures connected to the story, including the late Amiri Baraka, Ice T, Melle Mel, KRS One, MC Lyte and Chuck.

Following the Sheffield premiere, screenings will take place at Home in Manchester on Thursday, FACT in Liverpool on Friday and at the ICA in London on June 14 with former Bolton School pupil Mr Todd and Mr Nuriddin in attendance.

Hustlers Convention is a co-production between Mr Todd’s company Riverhorse, Chuck D’s company BTN Eastlink, Warehouse 51, owned by former Sky Vision CEO Carl Hall, and Quenell Jones.