
Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.

as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin

as Elsa

as Jose

as Pedro

as Preacher

as Hilton

as Detective Ray Jones

as Mother

as Pushcart Boy

as Housewife

as Market Woman

as Longa

as DJ at Dance

as Photographer

as Fitz

as Barmaid

as DJ

as Freddie

as Girl

as Elsa Friend

as Elsa Friend

as Drunk

as Himself

as Editor

as Django (archive footage)