Lightnin’ Rod – Hustlers Convention

Hustlers Convention is one of the most influential underground records of the 1970s.

Written and performed by Lightnin’ Rod (Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of The Last Poets) and produced by Alan Douglas, this 1973 release blends funk grooves with vivid, streetwise spoken-word storytelling.

A proto-rap landmark decades before hip-hop hit the mainstream, this record tells cinematic tales of hustlers, con men, and street survival over deep, funky instrumentation. It became hugely influential in early hip-hop culture and has been sampled and referenced extensively.

Standout tracks include:

• “Sport”
• “The Devil’s Gun”
• “The Peacemaker”
• “Sportin’ Life”

Original gatefold presentation with striking, iconic cover art.

An essential piece for collectors of funk, spoken word, early rap influences, and 1970s underground soul.