Dancehall Icon Elephant Man Goes Global Again with Viral ‘Pretty Little Baby’

Elephant Man’s viral hit Pretty Little Baby has catapulted him back into the spotlight, with recognition on Billboard’s monthly picks and a strong climb on the iTunes Reggae chart. Riding the wave of its success, he’s set to headline Reggae Fest at The Fillmore in Philadelphia on August 9, before making his first performance in the U.K. in 20 years at Soak’d Pineapple on August 16

Elephant Man to rock Reggae Fest in Philadelphia (Photo: 718beard)

Dancehall’s global footprint continues to expand, with veteran artist Elephant Man enjoying renewed success. Known for his energetic performances, strategic moves, and creativity over the years, the deejay is now reaping the rewards of his latest viral hit, Pretty Little Baby — a dancehall rendition of Connie Francis’ 1962 classic.

The track has quickly gained traction in Jamaica and abroad, climbing to #7 on the iTunes Top 100 Reggae Songs chart and racking up over 286,000 views to date. It was also featured in Billboard’s July Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks, where editors noted that "six decades after its original release, the song has found new life with Gen Z on TikTok." The magazine praised Elephant Man’s version, writing, “Stacked with hilariously vulgar slingers and a surprisingly catchy flow, Elephant Man has seemingly stumbled into a viral hit 30 years into his illustrious career.”

Riding the wave of virality, Elephant Man is set to bring his signature energy to Reggae Fest at The Fillmore in Philadelphia on August 9. Fresh off a high-powered guest appearance at Bounty Killer’s comeback concert at Barclays Center, the Energy God is ready to ignite the 3,000-capacity venue with classics like “Signal Di Plane” and “Pon De River Pon De Bank.”

The event is produced by New York-based powerhouse CJ Milan, the visionary behind the Reggae Fest series. Milan has been instrumental in dancehall’s resurgence on major U.S. stages, curating landmark moments such as Vybz Kartel’s long-anticipated U.S. return with two sold-out nights at Barclays Center, as well as Bounty Killer’s own triumphant performance at the same venue.

On August 16, Elephant Man will head to the U.K. for the first time in two decades to perform at Soak’d Pineapple, alongside Jada Kingdom and U.K.-based dancehall star Stylo G. The highly anticipated event is part of a massive weekend powered by Our Thing Global, Sandz Caribbean Music Festival, and Palm Nations.

He’ll then return to the Barclays Center on August 30 for Reggae Fest Massive Weekend, a two-day event during Labor Day weekend. The Saturday lineup features Elephant Man alongside Shenseea, Alkaline, Capleton, and more.