5 Things to Know About Jimmy Cliff and The Harder They Come

Jimmy Cliff played the lead role of Ivanhoe Martin in the film. He didn’t just contribute songs — he carried the movie as its star.

Cliff also sang the title track “The Harder They Come.” The song became a reggae anthem and defined the film’s sound.

He essentially scored the entire film himself. Cliff’s performance and music are inseparable from the movie’s identity.

It’s one of the few soundtracks where the star is the movie. The film’s success rests almost entirely on Cliff’s dual role as actor and musician.

The film launched reggae into the global mainstream. Cliff’s work on The Harder They Come made him an international icon.