Elephant Man, born O’Neil Bryan in 1974, is a renowned DJ known as the Energy God, growing up in the Seaview Gardens area of Kingston, Jamaica, where he was exposed to dancehall culture at an early age. He earned the nickname “Dumbo Elephant” in his youth due to his large ears and was influenced by local artists Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer. His musical career began with the formation of Scare Dem Crew, suggested by Bounty Killer, where he honed his on-stage persona through performances at various Jamaican festivals. He has three albums on VP and four on the sister label Greensleeves.
Elephant Man’s memorable performance at Reggae Sumfest in 1998, where he performed atop a camera crane, marked a key moment in his career. After leaving Scare Dem Crew due to disagreements, Elephant Man launched a successful solo career, blending dancehall with hip-hop influences in his debut album, Comin’ 4 You, released in 2000. His second album, Log On, gained significant attention with its hit title track, leading to collaborations with artists like Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey.
Elephant Man’s popularity peaked with the release of Good to Go by Atlantic Records in 2003, featuring the hit single “Pon di River, Pon di Bank,” and he later collaborated with artists like Wyclef Jean, Chris Brown, and Busta Rhymes on his 2008 album Let’s Get Physical. In 2011, he released Dance & Sweep! Adventures of the Energy God on VP/Greensleeves Records, featuring the Jamaican hit “Nuh Linga.”