The New York Times wrote that "though 'Tough' stops short of rage, it nevertheless describes the consequences of unemployment on male self-esteem in devastating detail".[ 4] Music critic Carl Cooper placed Tough on his ballot for the 1982 Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll.[ 5]
Title Writer(s) 1. "Tough" 2. "Juice" 3. "Daydreamin'" Walker Moore Smith Orin Jones 4. "Boogie Blues" Moore 5. "Baby You've Got to Go"
Kurtis Walker – vocals, timbales
James B. Moore – guitar, producer
David Reeves – guitar
Dean Bailin – guitar
Robbie Kondor – piano
Jeff Bova – synthesizer
Lawrence Smith – bass
Seth Glassman – bass
Jimmy Bralower – drums
Trevor Gale – drums
Sam Jacobs – percussion
Brian Brake – cymbal
Robert Ford Jr. – producer
Rod Hui – recording, mixing
Howie Weinberg – mastering
Bob Heimall Inc. – art direction
Mo Ström – design
Lloyd Nelson – cover photo
^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide . Random House . 1992. p. 69.
^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "B" . Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s . Pantheon Books . ISBN 0-679-73015-X . Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Marsh, Dave (February 11, 1983). "Records" . Greensboro Daily News . Rolling Stone . p. 38 – via newsbank.com.
^ Holden, Stephen (September 2, 1982). "Rap Music: Kurtis Blow" . The New York Times . p. C13. Retrieved April 12, 2024 .
^ Christgau, Robert (January 8, 2019). "1982 Pazz & Jop: Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome" . The Village Voice . Retrieved April 12, 2024 .
^ "Kurtis Blow Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^ "Kurtis Blow Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 12, 2024.