In 1972, the film The Harder They Come arrived and eventually emerged as a cult classic with Cliff in the starring role. The accompanying The Harder They Come Soundtrack brought an international spotlight to reggae music. The album initially climbed to #141 on the Billboard 200, and its legacy would only grow as time passed. 2021 saw the Library of Congress choose it for preservation in the National Recording Registry, deeming it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” The record essentially put reggae on the map. Rolling The Stone touted The Harder They Come Soundtrack on its coveted “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” In tandem, Jamaica recently celebrated its 60^th Anniversary of Independence from the UK on August 6, 2022.

Cliff continues to impact culture. He recently revealed his first new album in over a decade, Refugees [UMe]. The critically acclaimed full-length includes guest appearances from Wyclef Jean, Dwight Richards, and his daughter Lilty Cliff. Forbes notably hailed it as “vintage Cliff” and promised, “Cliff once again delivers his passion, wisdom, empathy and thoughtfulness on his stunning new collection, Refugees,” and FLAUNT applauded its “13 tracks of his inimitable grasp on the reggae sound and his optimistic, yet cut-no-corners truth he has been lauded for over the past six decades.” He also sat down with The Guardian and The Independent for in-depth interviews.

Listen to Jimmy Cliff’s new album Refugees HERE.

As lively as ever, Cliff celebrated his 78^th birthday on July 30.

In 2012, Cliff gifted the world with his most recent LP Rebirth. It garnered a GRAMMY Award in the category of “Best Reggae Album” and closed out the year on Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2012.” He stands out as “the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit—the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.”

Of course, his catalog spans seminal songs “Many Rivers To Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “The Harder They Come,” and “Hakuna Matata.” He contributed covers of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” and Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” to the classic comedy Cool Runnings.

Photography by Vision Addict