Presenting Tony Tuff

After a childhood spent skulking around Jamaican nightspots in the hopes of catching a glimpse of legendary performers like Prince Buster and Dennis Alcapone, Tony Tuff and his schoolyard friends Sugar Minott and Derrick Howard formed the vocal group The African Brothers. They cut a remarkable string of soulful, politically conscious singles enlivened by tight harmonies and inventive songwriting. But as the roots era faded at the end of the ‘70s, Tuff, Minott, and Howard each set out to make their name as solo performers. Minott was the first to score a solo hit and capitalized on his success by founding his own imprint, African Roots, in the late ‘70s. In 1981 Minott invited Tony Tuff to cut an LP for his newfound label. The resulting release, Presenting Mr. Tuff, was one of African Roots’ strongest early releases and featured a blend of hard stepper rhythms, socially conscious lyrics, and spare, dancehall-ready productions. Every track on this short but impeccably sequenced album amazes, but a thunderous ode to Haile Selassie, “King of Kings," and the mournful “Born in the Ghetto” are clear highlights.