Malie Donn sets Sept. 4 release for debut album
Cue Writer
Jamaican dancehall artist Malie Donn will release his debut studio album, The Golden Child, on Sept. 4 through VP Records, according to Billboard. The 20-track project follows a run of singles and shorter releases that helped move the Portmore artist from local attention to a wider Caribbean audience.
Billboard named Malie Donn its Caribbean Up-And-Comer for August and reported that the album will include appearances from Byron Messia and SQUASH, along with production involving DJ Frass. The artist, born Kymalie Hylton, grew up in Waterford, Portmore, a neighborhood closely tied to dancehall’s modern history.
That setting matters without needing to be overstated. Malie Donn has spoken about hearing Vybz Kartel at home and watching other Portmore artists build their own paths. His recent catalog has moved between tougher dancehall records and smoother, more melodic cuts, which gives the debut album room to feel like a proper introduction rather than a collection of leftovers.
For Caribbean listeners, the release is one to watch heading into the fall. VP Records has long been part of dancehall’s international pipeline, and a full-length debut gives Malie Donn a clearer chance to show what holds together beyond the singles.
Source: Billboard, Aug. 12, 2026.