Classic Jamaican Songs Featured In ‘The Bear’ On Hulu

Two iconic Jamaican reggae recordings, Draw Your Brakes by Scotty and Johnny Too Bad by The Slickers, have found renewed international attention after being featured in a surprise new episode of the acclaimed Hulu series The Bear.

The episode, titled “Gary,” premiered Tuesday, May 5, and takes viewers on a flashback journey with Richie Jerimovich, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Michael “Mikey” Berzatto, portrayed by Jon Bernthal, as the pair travel from Chicago to Gary on a delivery run. The episode was co-written by Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal and directed by series creator Christopher Storer.

Reggae music plays a prominent role throughout the episode. Early in the journey, Richie inserts a mix CD featuring “Draw Your Brakes,” the 1972 classic that showcased Scotty’s signature deejay style layered over Stop That Train by Keith & Tex.

Later in the episode, “Johnny Too Bad” underscores a stop at a roadside restaurant, bringing another piece of Jamaican music history into the emotionally charged narrative. Originally released in 1970, the song became globally recognized after appearing on the soundtrack for The Harder They Come, the groundbreaking Jamaican film starring Jimmy Cliff.

Written by members of The Slickers, Trevor “Batman” Wilson, Winston Bailey, Roy Beckford, and Derrick Crooks, “Johnny Too Bad” has endured across generations through covers by artists including Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, UB40, and Sublime.

“Draw Your Brakes” reappears near the close of the episode in a symbolic moment reflecting mounting tension between the characters, reinforcing the emotional weight reggae music brings to the storyline.

The soundtrack of The Harder They Come is widely credited with helping introduce reggae music to mainstream international audiences during the early 1970s. Released in the United Kingdom through Island Records and later in North America on Mango Records, the album became one of reggae’s most influential collections and was eventually selected for preservation by the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

The soundtrack also featured legendary Jamaican classics including You Can Get It If You Really Want, Israelites, 54-46 (That’s My Number), and Guava Jelly.

Widely praised for its performances, cinematography, soundtrack, and emotional storytelling, The Bear has earned 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. Though often categorized as a comedy, critics more commonly describe the series as a psychological drama exploring themes of grief, addiction, trauma, and family dysfunction.

The show’s fifth and reportedly final season is expected to premiere in June 2026.