All musical genres and trends originate from a collective effort. It’s absurd to claim that one particular artist created an entire musical movement independently. Historical forces always play a role in influencing a group of people to start creating music in a unique way, which in turn creates a culture around the time and place they operate in. Half of the reason why specific moments in music interest me is the rich sociopolitical context that surrounds them. The Jamaican music scene is particularly rich in its cultural history, though much of it is debated since it wasn’t covered as extensively as western music history is. One thing that is sure is that there were many prominent figures in the popularization and evolution of ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Prince Buster, Don Drummond, Desmond Dekker and Stranger Cole are just a few out of the multitude of incorporators. Derrick Morgan was one of the more popular ska artists who laid down the foundations of the genre.

“Tougher Than Tough,” like most good rocksteady songs, sets its relaxed groove from the first bar of the track. Led in through a cheery piano lick that skips along the central chord progression of the song, the rhythm section lethargically pushes the song along. Percussion is kept to a minimum, with the drummer simply riding the hi-hat on upbeats and keeping the time with rim hits on off beats. Consequently, the bass part is given more salience, as it’s noticeably lower in tone than the rest of the ensemble. It’s part is a bit more energetic as well, resting on the first beat of the measures before playing an ascending melody in line with the chord progression. Once the song enters into its concrete cadence, guitar and piano synthesize with the rhythm of the percussion, playing on the upbeats of each beat. Morgan further distinguishes the song from typical ska by incorporating hammer-ons in the guitar part, leading singular staccato strums into one another.

The kind of sluggish instrumental that the song employs lends itself thematically to its lyrics and context. Ever concerned with the rude boy subculture of Jamaica during the ‘60s, “Tougher than Tough” recounts a court hearing for the violence of a group of “rudies,” which they respond to in absolute defiance and solidarity. Similar to the American “gangster” or “thug,” “rudie” was a term used to describe dissatisfied Jamaican youths who were employed by sound system operators (DJs, MCs, etc) to violently crash the events of rival competitors. The conflicts that they created were so culturally prominent that just scratching the surface of the music of the time will yield a multitude of songs commentating on the circumstances of rude boys.

Here, Morgan introduces the narrative through the chorus of the song, “Rudies in court, now boys, rudies in court.” The setting is made tangible in the beginning of the first verse, which is heralded by the sound of a gavel snapping down and Morgan, as the judge, ceremoniously commanding “order.” He then exposits the charges being formed against the rude boy party in a succinct, matter-of-fact way, obviously unbothered and cold to the conditions of the group being prosecuted:

“Now, this court is in session /

And I order all you rude boys to stand /

You are brought here by a verdict for shooting, ratchet using and bomb throwings /

Now tell me, rude boys, what have you to say for yourselves?”

The judge speaks to them in a condescending way, which is reciprocated by the rude boys, who show no respect for him. They obstinately proclaim “rudies don’t fear,” and further cement their solidarity in “Rougher than rough, tougher than tough / Strong like lion, we are iron.” As a result, the court adjourns; the verdict seemingly in the rude boys’ favor. The gavel hits and the instrumental fades out.

Along with other songs like Dandy Livingstone’s “Rudy, a Message To You” or Laurel Aitken’s “Rudie Got Married,” “Tougher than Tough” spotlights the childish stubbornness of the rudeboys perpetrating the violence of the time. The rudies are free because they dodge the responsibilities and cares of the working adult while simultaneously making lives harder for everyone in their community. The song is inextricably connected to the historical context of the time, which draws me further into the genre.