‘God is the greatest’ - Elephant Man receives UK work permit after 16 years

'Energy God' Elephant Man is revved up and in high gear to undertake his first UK show in 16 years after recently being granted a work permit.

The dancehall entertainer, an integral part of 1990s to 2000s dancehall music, has been yearning to set foot back on UK soil, and, now that the wait is over, the deejay is bursting with joy and has high expectations.

"It's a good feeling, yuh done know - representing for dancehall and performing for the fans dem, making di fans enjoy di music and ting. Yuh know, it's a good look, suh give God thanks, yuh nuh. Mi get back mi UK work permit and yuh know di fans dem been waiting suh, yuh know, God is the greatest," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Though the deejay did not wish to elaborate on why he was not issued a work permit, he confirmed that it has been 16 years since he last performed in the country. Now he plans to focus all his energy on his upcoming Sandz Ultra Weekend performance in August in London, which he promised "is gonna be crazy".

When asked if not being able to perform there for so many years hurt his career, a confident Elephant Man stated that, despite his physical absence, his musical legacy continued to make a huge impact in the UK.

"I wouldn't say it hurt my career not travelling to England, because wi still put out di music. Di music still a reach over there, but di fans dem were going crazy and need to see di Energy God come over there and perform fi dem. But wi did still a put out di music and still connecting with them through the music, because wi neva stop do di music," he shared.

In addition to reuniting with his musical family, Elephant Man also expressed great excitement in reconnecting with two of his children who are residing in the UK.

"Dat would be great - dem seeing dem fadda and know seh di yout dem come see di Energy God a perform back pon di big stage fi dem and dem [get di chance] fi see some a dem fadda performance live. Dem can also get fi see [and] hug dem fadda and par wid dem fadda, suh, yeah man, it's a blessing man," he said, while sending "big ups" to his UK fans and the UK embassy. Tameka Reynolds, of Reynolds Entertainment Agency, who was very influential in the work permit processing for the deejay, said this is a great win for dancehall.

Elephant Man's recent Dancing To The Max single - a remix of the Ghanaian-American singer Moliy's Shake It To The Max - has racked up approximately 300,000 views, 9,000 likes and almost 500 comments. The majority of the fans have been naming him the 'Remix King' and saying that he is "bringing back dancehall". The deejay is fully re-energised while basking in the added fame from the track.

"As you can see, dancehall is at its best right now. Dancing To The Max remix, a it a di wave fi di summer right now, suh yuh know seh a trouble. Yeah man, di vibes just nice and di fans dem feel good, everybody happy and, as mi seh, God is good and mi give Him di glory always. And a just music wi seh always, dancehall to di fullest." Following his UK show, Elephant Man is set to perform in New York at Reggae Fest, along with other performances in Florida, Georgia, Connecticut and other parts of the US.