Malie Donn's "Golden Child" Album Drops Soon

Jamaican dancehall artist Malie Donn is releasing his debut studio album, "The Golden Child," on September 4. This 20-track project, distributed by VP Records, signifies a major career advancement for the 25-year-old artist, born Kymalie Hylton. Donn, recognized as Billboard's Caribbean Up-And-Comer of the Month for August 2026, hails from Waterford, a neighborhood in Portmore known for nurturing dancehall talent.

His musical journey includes early local hits like "Hennergy" and "Crook," with "V6" gaining significant viral traction in February 2023. Donn has achieved over 36.7 million U.S. streams in 2026, according to Luminate. The new album features collaborations with notable artists such as Byron Messia and SQUASH, aiming to connect with a wider audience.

"The Golden Child" was developed over the past year, with some tracks originating from earlier in his career. Donn intentionally delayed the album's release from July to September 4 to allow for more extensive promotion. He has already filmed six music videos for upcoming tracks, including "Holiday" and "The Golden Child" featuring SQUASH.

Malie Donn draws inspiration from dancehall figures like Vybz Kartel, whose music influenced his formative years. He describes his sound as evolving towards greater boldness and expressiveness, stating his commitment to authenticity. Donn previously won best new dancehall artist at the Caribbean Music Awards in 2025 and is nominated for the Dancehall Impact honor this year.