by Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Elephant Man - file

Preparing to hit it big this year on the international and local scene is Elephant Man. His latest album, which is being produced by Bad Boy Records, is set to debut in September.

Bad Boys Records is the brainchild of producer turned rap artiste Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs. Elephant Man said it was Diddy who sought him out. "The album suppose to come out in September. Since June everything has been officially locked wid Bad Boys records. We were doing a show in New York and he watched the show. Him come over and him seh him hear 'bout Elephant Man and him want me," Ele said.

More enticing deal

According to Elephant man, despite being in association with another record company, Bad Boy Records had the more enticing deal.

Elephant Man said, "it was originally Def Jam I was talking wid but Puffy come over wid a better deal." The deal, he said includes making a few minor changes, which will make the album much better.

He said, "originally the album was suppose to be called Over the Wall but we're reshooting the album cover and mi nuh really sure what we gonna call it. But it might be something like Global or Globally.

Global is appropriate for the scope of artistes and effort being put into the album. Elephant Man elaborated, "the record label brings added flavour to it, Puffy has marketing locked already. Him represent it to the fullest. You know seh the dancehall flavour deh pon it and everyone on the overseas market spice it up."

However, Elephant Man was not listed among the artistes on the Bad Boy roster on the group's official website www.badboyonline.com nor was his album listed as one that is coming soon.

But, Ele said there are many hot collaborations on his upcoming album, courtesy of Bad Boy.

"On the album there's Lil John, Mya, Busta Rhymes, Rihanna and more. The first single coming out is a collaboration with Puffy called This Is How We Roll."

Despite the attempt at crossing over, Elephant Man assured his fans not to except any changes. He said, "is the same Elephant Man, nothing nuh change, only the weather. This is not a hip hop album even though is a cross- over hip hop producer. I still sticking to the hardcore dancehall thing," he said.

Efforts made to contact Bad Boy records proved futile.