January 4, 2002

Elephant Man : Log On

The toast of dancehall, 2001...

In the murky and suitably underground world of dancehall reggae,
the beat seldom stays the same.

Such has been the speed of beat-mutation, thanks to computer technology, that the music is barely recognisable as a descendant of its ‘90s equivalent. And a youth from Seaview, Kingston – protégé of Bounty Killer and former member of the infamous Scare Dem Crew – is 2001’s dancehall cause célèbre.
Elephant Man’s edge over the fierce DJ/toaster competition is apparent in his dedication to the art of verbal warfare. It’s also crucial to note how current hip-hop attitudes have been put to the service of the dancehall.

Thus, Elephant Man speaks of playa haters (‘Haters Wanna War’), throws down challenges and threats (‘Yuh A War’), and boasts
of jewellery, fast cars and an outrageous sexual prowess (‘They Call Me’). There are no cultural-roots reflections or Rastafarian pieties here, and social comment is at best, understated – it’s all nihilism and sex.

A jarring surprise comes in the shape of ‘The Bombing’, though,
in which Elephant Man tackles the events of September 11. He offers condolences to the bereaved, namechecks Bush (‘’doesn’t trust no guy’’) and bin Laden ("will be trampled’’), and points out that shady business carries on as usual - in the dancehall, even in the shadow of World War Three.

Topical to the max.

Dele Fadele