Inner Circle

Inner Circle gained its greatest renown through “Bad Boys,” a pervasive crossover success that served as the signature theme for the enduring Fox reality series Cops. Long before that global breakthrough, however, the ensemble had already logged an extensive Jamaican career stretching back to the close of the 1960s. During the 1970s the group achieved major local stature as a rhythmically engaging yet roots-oriented Rastafarian reggae act fronted by the magnetic vocalist Jacob Miller. Miller’s fatal car crash in 1980 forced the collective into an extended pause; when it reconvened in the middle of the decade, the musicians began blending their foundational style with pop, R&B, and dancehall touches. First cut in 1987, “Bad Boys” exploded worldwide in the early 1990s, and the band persisted into the twenty-first century despite numerous lineup shifts.

The Lewis brothers—Ian on bass and Roger on guitar—launched the outfit in 1968 along with guitarist Steven “Cat” Coore, keyboardist Michael “Ibo” Cooper, and multi-instrumentalist Richard Daley. At first they earned their keep performing in hotel lounges. After Coore and Cooper departed in 1973 to establish Third World, the Lewis siblings rebuilt the roster with keyboardists Bernard “Touter” Harvey and Charles Farquharson (the latter staying only briefly) plus drummer Rasheed McKenzie. Between 1974 and 1975 Inner Circle issued two Trojan albums, Rock the Boat and Blame It on the Sun, both leaning on polished American soul covers, and scored a modest single success with “I See You.”

Everything changed once Jacob Miller joined as lead singer in 1976. A committed Rastafarian and already a thriving solo performer, Miller steered the band toward deeper spiritual and socially aware material, prompting a quick signing with Capitol Records. Over the ensuing years he authored such hits as “Tenement Yard,” “Forward Jah Jah Children,” “Tired Fe Lick Weed in a Bush,” and “All Night Till Daylight,” several credited solely to him yet performed by the full ensemble. Capitol released two albums during this stretch—1976’s Reggae Thing and 1977’s Ready for the World—while the group also cut material with disco luminaries KC & the Sunshine Band.

At the height of their Jamaican prominence, Inner Circle appeared at the historic One Love Peace Concert in 1978 alongside Bob Marley and numerous peers. The documentary Heartland Reggae broadened their international exposure and secured a contract with Island Records. Their 1979 Island debut, Everything Is Great, performed strongly across Europe, its disco-flavored title track reaching the U.K. Top 20 and the French Top Ten; additional singles such as “Stop Breaking My Heart,” “Mary, Mary,” and “Music Machine” further cemented their standing. Just as wider success seemed imminent, Miller died in a car accident on 23 March 1980, prompting the devastated musicians to disband. Ian Lewis and Harvey relocated to Miami and opened a studio, later joined by Roger Lewis.

Roger’s arrival reignited the original chemistry, leading the group to reform with new frontman Carlton Coffie and drummer Lancelot Hall. Their 1986 Ras comeback album, Black Roses, refreshed the classic roots approach with contemporary dance, R&B, pop, and dancehall elements. The follow-up, One Way, arrived in 1987 to strong reviews and contained the initial version of “Bad Boys.” After a successful tour the band took several years to deliver its next project, Identified, in 1991.

In the meantime, Fox selected “Bad Boys” as the theme for Cops, which debuted in March 1989. As the show became a ratings staple, the track turned into a widespread cultural reference. International syndication, beginning with Sweden in 1991, sent the single to the top of that country’s chart and generated further European hits. American release came in 1993, propelling “Bad Boys” into the pop Top Ten. An album of the same name was hastily assembled from prior recordings, chiefly drawn from the 1992 party-reggae set Bad to the Bone, which yielded the follow-up single “Sweat (A La La La La Long),” a Top 20 hit. Bad Boys earned a Grammy for Best Reggae Album, and its title track ultimately sold more than seven million copies globally.

The group quickly followed with the pop-leaning Reggae Dancer in 1994. Its lead track, “Summer Jammin’,” appeared in the Eddie Murphy comedy Beverly Hills Cop III, yet the release did not maintain the prior level of mainstream visibility. In 1995 “Bad Boys” was licensed again, this time for the action film starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Around the same period Coffie fell seriously ill and stepped away; upon recovery he pursued a solo path, leaving singer/toaster Kris Bentley—his temporary replacement—as the permanent vocalist. Bentley debuted on the 1997 album Da Bomb, reissued in the United States the following year as Speak My Language. Extensive touring ensued, accompanied by further releases including 2000’s Big Tings.