The Harder They Come

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.

Reggae Music

Documentary about reggae in Jamaica and its history. Filmed in 1979.

Rockers

Horsemouth, a drummer living in a ghetto of Kingston, plans to make money selling records. After his prized motorcycle is stolen, his plans fall through and he's forced to adapt.

Urgh! A Music War

Urgh! A Music War is a British film released in 1982 featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk acts, filmed in 1980. Among the artists featured in the movie are Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Magazine, The Go-Go's, Toyah Willcox, The Fleshtones, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, X, XTC, Devo, The Cramps, Oingo Boingo, Dead Kennedys, Gary Numan, Klaus Nomi, Wall of Voodoo, Pere Ubu, Steel Pulse, Surf Punks, 999, UB40, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Police. These were many of the most popular groups on the New Wave scene; in keeping with the spirit of the scene, the film also features several less famous acts, and one completely obscure group, Invisible Sex, in what appears to be their only public performance.

I Am the Gorgon: Bunny 'Striker' Lee and the Roots of Reggae

This feature length documentary charts the story of the great Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee. A legend himself, there’s not a lot of pioneers of roots and reggae that he didn’t work with, becoming the go-to producer for that dub sound coming out of Jamaica in the sixties and seventies, further cementing his legacy when he started licensing his productions straight to London labels. Diggory Kenrick’s doco calls on not only Lee himself to tell the story, but features the likes of U Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly and Robbie, Johnny Clarke and Johnny Holt among others.

Reggae at the BBC

An archive celebration of great reggae performances filmed in the BBC Studios, drawn from programmes such as The Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops and Later... with Jools Holland, and featuring the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Desmond Dekker, Burning Spear, Althea and Donna, Dennis Brown, Buju Banton and many more.

Bob Marley: The Legend Live

Recorded in California at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, this live concert appearance from Bob Marley and the Wailers was filmed on November 25, 1979. One of the last shows to be recorded before Marley's untimely demise, the gig is a scintillating mix of reggae classics and provides a fitting epitaph to the influential musician. Tracks include "I Shot the Sheriff," "Exodus," "Is This Love" and many more.

Skalariak - Ska Republik Concert

Two Sevens Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers

Documentary about reggae music and culture in London in 1977. Filmed in Super 8 camera by Don Letts. With participation of Richard Branson, Neneh Cherry, Paul Cook, Sly Dunbar, Paul Weller, John Lydon, Joe Strummer, Siouxsie Sioux, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and others. Released in 2017.

Criola Beat Dancehall Style: Live Inna Reggae Cruise

Toots & The Maytals: Live at Santa Monica Pier

Over the years, few video documents have been issued about one of reggae's most popular and enduring bands, Toots & the Maytals. With their slinky and extremely danceable rhythms and passionate concert performances, the outfit has long been one of reggae's top live acts. Released in 2001, the Live DVD is a fine document of the latter-day Toots & the Maytals live experience, recorded in front of a large and receptive crowed at the Santa Monica Pier in California on August 7, 1997. Featuring ten tracks overall and clocking in at an hour, Live features stirring renditions of many of the group's best-known tracks, including such highlights as "Pomps and Pride," "Funky Kingston," "Monkey Man," and "54-46 Was My Number," among others.

Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story

For decades the iconic track “Bam Bam” has been a sampled darling within the music industry, creating many new stars along the way. But what do we know of its legendary creator? From Kingston to the world, witness the transcendent stylings and legacy of Sister Nancy.

UB40 - The Collection

Over the course of more than two decades, Birmingham's UB40 have become global ambassadors for reggae, a journey captured perfectly on The Collection. This programme is split into two main sections: a 26-track video collection and a documentary detailing their 20th anniversary concert in September 2001. Forgoing chronology in favour of a more random approach, the video selection is slightly disjointed on a visual level, leaping from decade to decade within the space of a couple of tracks. While they have never made a truly great video (most feature the band lip-synching in various places around the world) UB40 have certainly been prolific over the years. "One In Ten" and "Food for Thought", their earliest work, represented the sound of young, multicultural Britain just as well as the more lauded Specials. And while there have perhaps been a few too many covers in recent times, it is hard to deny the effectiveness of "Red, Red Wine" and "Kingston Town".

World of Skinhead

Straight out of This is England! Or was it the other other way round? Never mind, now a classic, World of Skinhead seeks out the roots of skinhead culture - from Detroit to Bergen, from Glasgow to Berlin, honouring its true spirit.

Reggae Ambassadors, La Légende du Reggae

Made in Jamaica

A powerful portrait of the leaders of the reggae music Movement, and how Reggae has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film showcases performances by the best Reggae and Dance Hall artists ever assembled. From their native ghetto to international fame, "Made in Jamaica" is the story of the artists who represent the Jamaican Dream.

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Easy Skanking in Boston '78

Easy Skanking In Boston 78' consists of intimate footage captured by a fan that Marley allowed to sit right at the front of the stage during one of his sets. The result is impeccable, rare footage of Bob Marley performing . In addition, to the raw footage, animation by Craig Bernard and Sara Mora Ivicevich has been included for smooth transitions and a modern touch, since (during that time) the cinematographer was shooting with film and needed to change rolls during the performance.

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Tuff Gong Studio Rehearsal

Bob Marley and the Wailers entered the newly refurbished Tuff Gong Studios on May 1, 1980 to rehearse songs for the upcoming Uprising tour which starts June 1, 1980 in München, Germany. A film crew is at the rehearsal to film footage for a JBC documentary on Bob Marley and Tuff Gong. Much of the rehearsal was captured on film, and it has become legendary footage.

Dread Beat and Blood

Follows dub poet master Linton Kwesi Johnson out of the recording studio onto the Brixton streets.

Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story

They have raged on for forty years, cutting a swath across continents and lighting the fuse of revolutionary thought. From the pressure-cooker ghettos of England to the mighty gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one band has forged an enduring legacy. This is their story.