b. O'Neil Bryan, 11 September 1975, Seaview Gardens, Jamaica, West Indies. One of the more colourful characters on the "glam" dancehall scene, Bryan was originally known as "Dumbo the Elephant" as it was perceived that he had larger than average ears similar to the Walt Disney cartoon character. He was given the nickname by his soccer playing colleague Crack Skull who in 1991, through his music industry connections, arranged Bryan's studio debut. Elephant Man was still at school when he first ventured into the Seaview-based studio and practised beating out rhythms and rhymes among his school friends. He went on to became a member of Scare Dem Crew but following their demise, he demonstrated his individuality and pursued a solo career. He was celebrated for his trademark yellow-orange hair, his outlandish jewellery and his numerous catch-phrases. On stage he is a whirlwind of activity, launching himself high into the air, climbing monitors and running from side to side, claiming that he is attempting to express himself to his people.
In 1998, Elephant Man performed at the dancehall night of the annual Reggae Sumfest festival and the media went into overdrive describing his antics as he climbed onto the television crane and performed high above the audience. His early solo efforts included duets with Mr. Vegas on "Jump Jump", "What's Up", "Ain't No Way" and the avant garde dancehall favourite, "Dainty". By 2000, Elephant Man had released a series of solo hits including the favoured, "Watchi Pum", "Replacement Killer", "You Slacker You", and "Pum Pum". He was also reunited with Scare Dem Crew's Harry Toddler for the hit, "War War War". In 2001 the DJ recorded "Bombing" following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, that occurred on his twenty-sixth birthday.
In December 2003, Elephant Man made his major label debut with the VP Records/Atlantic Records release Good 2 Go, which featured the US R&B hits "Pon De River, Pon De Bank" and "Jook Gal'. He also attracted criticism for his homophobic lyrics, one of several dancehall stars to earn the attentions of the police during this period. He switched to the rap/urban label Bad Boy Records for 2008"s Let's Get Physical.
DISCOGRAPHY: Comin' 4 You! (Greensleeves 2000)***, Log On (Greensleeves 2001)***, Higher Level (Greensleeves 2002)****, Good 2 Go (VP/Atlantic 2003)***, Let's Get Physical (Bad Boy 2008)***.
COMPILATIONS: Monsters Of Dancehall: Elephant Man (The Energy God) (Greensleeves 2007)****.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Live (Quantum Leap 2007).
FILMOGRAPHY: Third World Cop (1999), Made In Jamaica (2006).

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Copyright 2008 by Muze Inc.; all rights reserved.

Higher Plane
by Elephant Man

Jook Gal
by Elephant Man