Ivanhoe Martin arrives at Kingston, Jamaica, lands a recording contract because a singer also, after some initial battles, searching for work. He records his first song,"The Harder They Come," but after having a bitter dispute using a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the invoices. He kills some cops that are barbarous, copes marijuana and makes local folk hero status. His record has been topping the charts.