Hammond formed his own record label, Harmony Records, in 1985 for the release of his Make a Song album, which had two Jamaican chart-toppers that were influenced by the emerging dancehall style: "Groovy Little Thing" and "What One Dance Can Do". The latter, produced by Willie Lindo, began to break Hammond into the international market. He scored another hit in 1986 with "Settling Down" on his eponymous release. He left his fame in Jamaica for New York in 1987 after being tied up as thieves ransacked his house during a home invasion. There he recorded Have a Nice Weekend and the duet single "How Can We Ease the Pain" with Maxi Priest.
Hammond returned briefly to Jamaica to record Putting Up Resistance, which was significantly harder than his typical ballads, under Tapa Zukie, which spawned the hits "Putting Up Resistance" and "Strange." He signed with Penthouse Records in 1990 and returned to Jamaica permanently to record the dancehall smash "Tempted to Touch", with producer Donovan Germain. This is perhaps his best known song in the United States and United Kingdom (later remade in 2004 as a minor hit for Rupee), and set the foundation for the hits "Is This a Sign" and "Respect to You Baby" on the 1992 Love Affair album. Now garnering interest from major studios such as Electra Records, Hammond recorded five more albums in the 1990s as well as several compilations, establishing himself as one of the top lovers rock artists. His first album of the new millennium was 2001's Music Is Life, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean. The 2004 release Love Has No Boundaries, had guest spots by Buju Banton and Big Youth.