On the 50th anniversary of hip hop The J Files shines the light on one of the 21st Century's most important voices - Kendrick Lamar.

The Compton rapper has had a stratospheric rise since releasing his early mixtapes under the name K.Dot. With five studio albums, a swag of GRAMMYs and a Pulitzer Prize under his belt - he's managed to maintain his artistic integrity and the respect of his peers.

Albums like good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp A Butterfly and DAMN. cemented him as a musical icon, but they're not necessarily easy listens. His records are complex and dense conceptual works of art, requiring patience and focused attention.  So how has he managed to crossover in such a huge way— commercially as an artist, as well as legitimising the language of hip hop and the stories of the streets?

To get the low down on Kendrick Lamar this episode features interviews with the man himself, his biographer Marcus J. Moore, his collaborators Thundercat, Robert Glasper and Kamasi Washington and Australian rappers taking cues from the King - Sampa The Great, JK-47, Tkay Maidza, Ziggy Ramo, B Wise and Tasman Keith.