|
  
|
|
|
April
2002 Edition |
|
Spotlight on Elephant Man
By Shelah Moody |
Photo by Diane Adam (c) 2002
|
| Like the Bogle, the Water Pump and the Cool and Deadly, the Log On
is the latest dance craze that was created by the Jamaican people in the dancehall. Set to
Jeremy Harding's ubiquitous "Liquid" Riddim, the Log On is a sensual and stylish
way of moving from side to side, with a little hip and booty action, too! I caught up with the eccentric, 26-year-old DJ known as Elephant
Man, master of the Log On, at the 21st Annual Ragga Muffins Festival/Bob Marley Day
Celebration at Long Beach Arena (Feb. 17). Backed by an all star collective led by
keyboardist Steve "Lenky" Marsden, Elephant Man performed tracks from his
Greensleeves chart topper Log On, including "Haters Wanna War," "Anything A
Anything," "The Bombing," (on King of King's "Martial Arts"
riddim) and the Calypso infused "Wine Your Waist and Roll." Performing Log On's
title track, Elephant Man invited a group of women from the audience to dance with him on
stage. Watching from the crowd, I attempted to recreate the intricate moves of the Log On.
"You can't dance, mon!" a Jamaican standing behind me laughed. Some nerve! Hey,
I was just trying to get my party on! Maybe it was time for this reporter to Log Off! By
the time I got over my embarrassment, Elephant Man, known for his sexual antics on stage,
had jumped off the stage and thrown himself on the mercy of the delighted and stunned
audience. |
|
| Intrigued and curious to know more about this
bold and innovative performer, I ventured into Elephant Man's dressing room after his set.
"Doesn't look much like an elephant to me," I thought. Wearing blond cornrows, a
black tank top and thick platinum rope, the buffed Elly was flanked by his manger, Q45,
his publicist, and an endless stream of women and children seeking autographs and photo
ops. At one point, Junior Reid, one of the night's headliners, walked in and grabbed the
DJ in a fraternal hug. When my chance came, I asked the congenial Elephant Man if he was
ever felt scared, throwing himself into the audience as he does. |
Photo by Diane Adam (c) 2002
|
|
| "No," he replied. "I like to get them involved. I'm
the energy god, you know. I like to make them feel the music and enjoy what they are
doing. The Elephant style is unique, one in a million, one of a kind." "What's
the wildest thing that's happened to you on stage so far?" I asked. "The wildest
thing was when I was picking up this fat lady today," laughed Elephant Man. "You
are a consummate entertainer," I said. "Who are some of your influences?"
"I like Shabba Ranks, that's my DJ!," said Elly. "I also like Michael
Jackson and DMX. The whole lot." Born Sept. 11, (Yes, really!) 1976, Elephant Man
received his moniker at age 13 by his friend "Crack Scull." The aspiring DJ had
large ears likened to Disney's Dumbo character. Crack Scull was the mentor who took him
into his studio and encouged him to put his talents to use. Rodney Price, a.k.a. Bounty
Killer, later became a key influence, as Elephant Man joined Boom Dandimite, Harry
Toddler, and Nitty Kutchie as part of dancehall's infamous Scare Dem Crew. The follow up
to Elephant Man's 2000 debut, Comin 4 You, Log on is the perfect example of how the
internet and the world's post 9/11 climate have influenced dancehall culture. Elephant Man
joins forces with Ky-mani Marley, Lukie D, Ward 21 and producer Wayne Marshall. "I
met Wayne at King Jammys studios," said Elephant Man. "We roll like brothers; we
par together. We cook together. We link up, we do tunes and we make records." In
closing, I asked Elephant Man about his outlook the dancehall music of the new millennium.
"Dancehall is in a very good direction right now, cause you have nuff good dancehall
artists, like Bounty Killer, Junior Gong, the whole family, who are doing the work that's
supposed to be done," said Elly. "We just keep it real; we can conquer the
world." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
