Elephant Man shares reason for his longevity

As veteran dancehall artiste Elephant Man prepares to celebrate his 47th birthday on September 11, he told THE STAR that trying to be 100 per cent himself is how he has been able to maintain his career and stay relevant.

"Keep it real and be you. Mi coulda seh mi a go ova dah part deh and deejay one million gun song or one million scamming song. But no! Be you. When you be you, that's the greatest thing. When you hear me a do 'scamma scamma', you a guh seh 'a nuh Ele dat'," he said. "Give dem a lickle of everything, enuh, but just keep it 100 per cent you. If you try to be somebody else you gonna lose your identity in the music and nobody is gonna remember you."

Elephant Man, whose given name is Oneal Bryan, has been in the music industry since the 1990s, gaining much of his initial success as a member of the Scare Dem Crew. He later pursued his solo career and became a dancehall fan favourite with his electrifying performances and head-turning hair and outfits. Also known as the 'Energy God', Elephant Man has had several major hit songs such as Pon De River, Gully Creepa, Log On and Nuh Linga as well as international collaborations with artistes like Wyclef Jean, Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Kat DeLuna.

According to Elephant Man, his purpose in the industry has been to keep the people happy. He said that with Jamaica now facing a myriad of challenges, it is more important than ever.

"We need balance. So me try provide the balance fi the happy side and try nuh mek nutten break me. At the end of the day to how Jamaica a run now, it get wicked. A we affi take a stand to keep things positive. The mindset that I have, we are not perfect, we are human beings. Everybody mek mistake. Elephant Man has never left that positive side," he said.

He also urged dancehall artistes to rethink certain habits and mindsets and continue to focus on just doing good music.

"Mi a try show the yout dem seh you nuh affi walk with 100 man 'cause a dem same one will turn round and hurt yuh. If you yuh have bad man friend and dem ting deh, guh through same way and hail dem up, [but] yuh nuh affi get caught up inna wah dem a do. A nuh dat you deh here fa, you deh ya fi entertain people. Follow your own path," he said.