Elephant Man

Artist Image: Elephant Man
Attribution
Image Credit: Earthscript (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Overly large ears as a child earned him the nickname "Dumbo Elephant" from his classmates in the Seaview Gardens area of Kingston, Jamaica. Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer were Seaview residents at the time, and with King Jammy's studio not so far away, Elephant Man had an early exposure to dancehall culture. While singing at the gates of Ranks and Jammy's studios, Bounty Killer heard him and suggested forming a group with other Seaview teens. The group was originally called the Seaview Family, but after Bounty Killer had a massive hit with "Big Guns Scare Dem," the name changed to Scare Dem Crew. Scare Dem Crew only released one album but played multiple festivals around Jamaica, giving Elephant Man a chance to refine his on-stage persona. Dancehall night at 1998's Reggae Sumfest was a highlight, with Elephant Man climbing up a television camera crane and delivering his energetic rhymes high above the audience. The rest of Scare Dem started to question the DJ's ability to be a team player and Elephant Man left the group feeling disrespected. Solo, he was able to incorporate the hip-hop rhythms he loved on his full-length debut, Comin' 4 You, released by Greensleeves in 2000. The title cut from his second release, Log On, was a huge hit and the album's WTC attacks commentary attracted a wealth of attention from the press. A duet with one of Elephant Man's favorite rappers, Busta Rhymes, appeared on a remix of Lil Jon's "Get Low," and Mariah Carey recruited the DJ for an appearance on her Charmbracelet album. Atlantic Records took note of his growing popularity and released his major-label debut, Good 2 Go, in late 2003 while his "Pon di River, Pon di Bank" single was taking urban radio by storm. In 2008 the Let's Get Physical album appeared on the VP label in partnership with P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records. It featured the single "Five-O" with Wyclef Jean, while Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes appeared elsewhere on the album. Featuring the Jamaican hit “Nuh Linga,” the 2011 effort Dance & Sweep! Adventures of the Energy God found him back on VP proper. ~ David Jeffries

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1997
Number of Albums 160
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Elephant Man on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Dancehall

Trivia

Where was Elephant Man based?

Jamaica

...d Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man was making a name for himself in Kingston, Jamaica , as the genre's freaky haired bad boy. Contrary to hiphop's connotatio...
What type of DJ presents the lyrics while the selector plays the music beneath his or her vocals?

dancehall DJ

...connotation of a DJone who spins records as an MC delivers lyricsthe dancehall DJ presents the lyrics while the selector plays the music beneath his o...
On what date was O'Neil Bryan born?

September 11, 1974

...r plays the music beneath his or her vocals. Born O'Neil Bryan on September 11, 1974 , in Kingston, Jamaicathe heart of reggae, dancehall, and dub musi...
What kind of music did Elphant Man begin to play?

Reggae

...Elephant Man Reggae musician While dancehall music was being popularized in America through the successes of DJs Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder, Elephant ...
Who urged Bryan to change his nickname to Elephant Man?

Shabba Ranks

... dem stuff, but we could catch fishes and eat cane. At the urging of Shabba Ranks , the Dumbo nickname morphed into Elephant Man, and Bryan took it as ...
What was Bryan's first dancehall crew?

Seaview Family

..., the Dumbo nickname morphed into Elephant Man, and Bryan took it as his stage name when performing with his first dancehall crew, the Seaview Family ....
What nickname did Ele receive when he was young?

Dumbo

...eer His stagename stemmed from his large ears, which led to the nickname Dumbo in his youth. Ele started out his musical career as a member of the Sca...
What color did Elephant Man's hair appear in?

yelloworange

... He was later characterized for several trademarks, such as his dyed yelloworange hair, his unique lowkey voice, and his stage performance, which incl...
When did Elephant Man and Puma settle a contract for using his single All Out for its Olympics commercial campaign?

2004

...act for using his single All Out for its Olympics commercial campaign in 2004 . Elephant Man also had a song called Willie Bounce that appeared on seve...
What was the name of Elephant Man's song that appeared on several Mixtapes in early 2006?

Willie Bounce

...ics commercial campaign in 2004. Elephant Man also had a song called Willie Bounce that appeared on several Mixtapes in early 2006. It borrowed the fi...
When was Let's Get Physical released?

November 6,2007

... Yorkbased label Bad Boy Records and released Let's Get Physical on November 6,2007 . The first single is called FiveO and features Wyclef Jean. Anothe...
Who is featured on the first single FiveO?

Wyclef Jean

...cal on November 6,2007. The first single is called FiveO and features Wyclef Jean . Another track on the album will feature Diddy and Busta Rhymes, and...
What two companies produced the track FiveO on the Album?

Cipha Sounds and Solitair

...lled FiveO and features Wyclef Jean. Another track on the album will feature Diddy and Busta Rhymes, and it was produced by Cipha Sounds and Solitair ....
What nickname did he get as a child?

Dumbo Elephant

...Bryan in 1974. Overly large ears as a child earned him the nickname Dumbo Elephant from his classmates in the Seaview Gardens area of Kingston, Jamaic...
How many albums did the scare dem crew release?

one

...are Dem, the name changed to Scare Dem Crew. Scare Dem Crew only released one album but played multiple festivals around Jamaica, giving Elephant Man ...
What was the highlight of 1998's Reggae Sumfest?

Dancehall night

...amaica, giving Elephant Man a chance to refine his onstage persona. Dancehall night at 1998's Reggae Sumfest was a highlight, with Elephant Man climbi...
What did Elephant Man climb up to deliver his energetic rhymes high above the audience?

a television camera crane

... Reggae Sumfest was a highlight, with Elephant Man climbing up a television camera crane and delivering his energetic rhymes high above the audience. ...
What was Elephant Man's fulllength debut?

Comin' 4 You

... to incorporate the hiphop rhythms he loved on his fulllength debut, Comin' 4 You , released by Greensleeves in 2000. The title cut from his second rel...
When was Comin' 4 You released?

2000

...loved on his fulllength debut, Comin' 4 You, released by Greensleeves in 2000 . The title cut from his second release, Log On, was a huge hit and the a...
What was the title cut from his second release?

Log On

...eleased by Greensleeves in 2000. The title cut from his second release, Log On , was a huge hit and the album's WTC attacks commentary attracted a weal...
When did Bryan start his musical career?

1995

...Career edit He started out his musical career in 1995 as a member of the Scare Dem Crew, later continuing as a solo artist. Bryan had his first intern...
What group did Bryan join in 1995?

Scare Dem Crew

...r edit He started out his musical career in 1995 as a member of the Scare Dem Crew , later continuing as a solo artist. Bryan had his first internation...
When did Willie Bounce appear on several mixtapes?

early 2006

...paign in 2004. His song Willie Bounce appeared on several mixtapes in early 2006 . It used the first few bars from I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Wil...
When did Bryan release Let's Get Physical?

6 November 2007

... Yorkbased label Bad Boy Records and released Let's Get Physical on 6 November 2007 . The first single was called FiveO and featured Wyclef Jean. Anoth...
What song was covered by Elephant Man in 2009?

We Are The World

...ddims such as Diwali, Coolie, Stepz, and Bubble Up. In 2009, Elephant Man released a cover of the song We Are The World in tribute to Michael Jackson....
What was the name of the song Man released in tribute to?

Michael Jackson

...ddims such as Diwali, Coolie, Stepz, and Bubble Up. In 2009, Elephant Man released a cover of the song We Are The World in tribute to Michael Jackson ....
By Elephant Man is a popular Jamaican dancehall musician and singer who is best known for his hit songs across what?

the world

...ncehall musician and singer who is best known for his hit songs across the world . There is no information about his parents, siblings, and early child...
Elephant Man was part of the Scare Dem Crew in what year?

1996

...and early childhood life. Elephant Man was part of the Scare Dem Crew in 1996 when he began his music career. He left the crew to begin his solo caree...
What company did Elephant Man sign a contract with in 2004?

Puma

...ft the crew to begin his solo career. In 2004, he signed with a contract Puma for using his single All Out for its Olympics commercial campaign 2004. ...
What record label did Elephant Man sign with?

Bad Boy Records

...mercial campaign 2004. Elephant Man signed with New Yorkbased label Bad Boy Records and released his first studio album called Lets Get Physical on 6 ...
What was the name of Elephant Man's first album?

Lets Get Physical

...d label Bad Boy Records and released his first studio album called Lets Get Physical on 6 November 2007. Elephant Man Net Worth Elephant Man is estima...
Elephant Man is estimated to have a net worth of what?

4 million

...lephant Man Net Worth Elephant Man is estimated to have a net worth of 4 million . Elephant Man Songs Elephant Man is a household name in Jamaica and t...
When did Elephant Man win many awards?

since 1995

...a and the world all over due to his hit songs. He has won many awards since 1995 . Jook Girl 2003 Pon de river 2007 log on 2001 Bun bad mind 2003 Magic...
What is the name of the song that Elephant Man sings?

Elephant Man Songs

...Worth Elephant Man is estimated to have a net worth of 4 million. Elephant Man Songs Elephant Man is a household name in Jamaica and the world all ove...
Who was Elephant Man?

Kingston, Jamaica

...ul and Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man was making a name for himself in Kingston, Jamaica , as the genre's freaky haired bad boy. Contrary to hiphop's conno...
What type of music did 'Elephant man' begin his career with?

dancehall

..., the Dumbo nickname morphed into Elephant Man, and Bryan took it as his stage name when performing with his first dancehall crew, the Seaview Family....
By what means did Bryan begin to follow his musical calling?

Despite his mother's wishes

...raptured by music, tapping out rhythms on his desk at school. Despite his mother's wishes , he began to follow his musical calling. Artists like Shabba...
Who took the time to mentor many of the youths in the depressed neighborhood where Bryan grew up?

Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer

...ishes, he began to follow his musical calling. Artists like Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer took the time to mentor many of the youths in the depressed...