Which reggae artist sang 'The Harder They Come'?

The reggae artist who sang “The Harder They Come” is Jimmy Cliff.

Cliff wrote, recorded, and performed the title song for the 1972 Jamaican film The Harder They Come, in which he also played the lead character, Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin. The song became one of reggae’s best-known international introductions and remains closely associated with both Cliff and the film.

The recording was made at Dynamic Sounds in Kingston during production. Cliff developed the song from the film’s title and improvised much of its lyric and melody. The soundtrack also included other major Jamaican recordings, helping bring reggae and related styles to audiences outside Jamaica.

A common mix-up is Bob Marley, whose worldwide fame sometimes leads listeners to associate him with every landmark reggae song. Marley did not sing this title track. “The Harder They Come” is specifically a Jimmy Cliff recording, although artists including Joe Jackson and Madness later released their own versions.