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Bad Boy Records Inks Landmark Deal with
VP Records and Dancehall Superstar Elephant Man
 Sean
“Diddy” Combs of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment announced today a
landmark deal with reggae/dancehall music label VP Records to market
and distribute dancehall superstar, Elephant Man. “Elephant Man is
one the greatest entertainers in his genre of music. When I saw him at
Madison Square Garden ripping down the stage, I knew that he was the
one. He will be a great addition to our team,” Sean “Diddy”
Combs said. The first release from Elephant Man under the new
Bad Boy/VP Records venture is slated for spring 2007 with a single and
video expected in early 2007.
Known for his high-energy live
performances, Elephant Man a/k/a O’Neil Bryan is one of the few
dancehall acts to crossover into mainstream music.
Collaborations with Diddy, Cassie, Rhianna, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, Mya,
and long time collaborator Lil’ Jon, are expected on his upcoming
release. In addition to the new CD in the works, Elephant Man
will also hit the road as a supporting act on Diddy’s world tour to
begin in February 2007 in support of Diddy’s new album “Press
Play,” in stores this October.
A protégé of dancehall king,
Bounty Killer, Elephant Man signed with VP Records in 2003 and crossed
over into the pop mainstream with his hit single “Pon Di River”
and collaborations with The Ying Yang Twinz, Lil’ Jon and Twista.
Regarding the joint venture with Bad Boy, Elephant Man,
known to fans as the Energy God, remarked: “Ya know we are excited
to work with P. Diddy, the vibes are there, and with this combo we are
gonna take dancehall to another level. I’m looking forward to
dropping (the album) and the promotion, cuz Diddy is creative, and
with him and the Energy God together…It’s gonna be madness!”
 Willie Daniels of VP Records commented:
“Elephant Man has collaborated with many international stars, Lil’
Jon, Janet Jackson, Will Smith, and Mariah Carey to name a few, but I
have never seen him so motivated to succeed. This collaboration is a
natural progression in his career as an artist and entertainer.”
Bad Boy Records GM, Harve Pierre added,
It’s a pleasure working with Elephant and VP Records and I know that
it will be a great experience.”
VP Records, established in 1979 as a
retail store, is the largest independent label for new Jamaican music
in the United States, and holds a predominant position in the
influential hip-hop-flavored dancehall niche. The 2002 release
Sean Paul’s debut on VP Records catapulted the Jamaica-born reggae
artist into a multi-platinum household name.
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment (BBWEG)
is one of the world’s pre-eminent urban entertainment companies.
Bad Boy ventures include more than music and encompass a broad range
of businesses including recording, music publishing, artist
management, and television and film production and the Sean John
clothing line. Bad Boy Records is home to hip hop legend the late
Notorious B.I.G., as well as current chart toppers Danity Kane, Yung
Joc, Cassie, B5, Boyz N Da Hood, Cheri Dennis, Christian Daniel, and
8Ball & MJG.
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