Bad Boys

The song Bad Boys, by the Jamaican band Inner Circle, has a particular history that made it resonate long after its first appearance. Originally released in 1987, its big moment of popularity in the United States came with a reissue in 1993. It was then that it climbed to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached seventh place on the Top 40 Mainstream. Its catchy rhythm made it the opening theme of the American television documentary series Cops, and it was also chosen as the main theme for the 1995 action and comedy film Bad Boys, even appearing in its sequels.

The first time we heard Bad Boys was in October 1987, as part of the album One Way. However, its journey as a single began in 1991 in Norway and Finland, where it reached number one. The following year, in 1992, it was included on the album Bad to the Bone. The 1993 reissue, which coincided with the international success of their previous single Sweat (A La La La La Long), was what propelled Bad Boys to fame in the United States, reaching number 8 and earning a gold certification for sales of 600,000 copies. The composition of this piece is attributed to Ian Lewis, who also participated in the production alongside Touter Harvey and Roger Lewis, as well as Per Adebratt and Tommy Ekman. The album Bad to the Bone, in its American reissued version as Bad Boys in 1993, received the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.