Malie Donn releases debut album Golden Child
Originally published by Jamaica Observer Read the original
Dancehall artiste Malie Donn today released his debut studio album, The Golden Child, marking a major milestone for the entertainer who has steadily carved out a place among dancehall’s new generation.
The 21-track project, released through VP Records, follows several years of building his name with songs including Van Cleef, Body Tea, V6, Dirty Mirror, Suspect, Crook and many others.
“The Golden Child represents everything that brought me to this point: the pressure, the growth, the wins and the lessons,” Malie Donn said. “This project gives people a chance to hear more of who I am as an artist, where I want to take the music next and the versatility I bring.”
On Thursday, Malie Donn released the album’s title track, Golden Child, featuring fellow dancehall artiste Squash. The collaboration pairs Malie Donn’s melodic delivery with Squash’s distinctive style, while exploring themes of confidence, ambition and resilience that also run through the wider project.
The official music video for Golden Child also premiered on Thursday, providing the final lead-in to the album. Born Kimalie Hylton, Malie Donn is originally from Jones Avenue, Spanish Town, St Catherine, but grew up in Waterford, Portmore.
Malie Donn on Friday released his debut album Golden Child .
His passion for music dates back to his days as a student at Waterford Primary School and developed further while he attended Bridgeport High School. Malie Donn has emerged as one of the acts in dancehall’s newer wave, building a catalogue that has helped expand his audience locally and internationally. The Golden Child also continues his relationship with VP Records. In 2024, he released The Grand Rising EP through the label, followed by the Leak the Hard Drive EP in 2025. The album was preceded by Holiday, which arrived on August 7 alongside its official music video and offered listeners an early glimpse of a different side of Malie Donn’s artistry. For Malie Donn, the release of his first full-length album represents an opportunity to present a more complete picture of himself beyond the individual songs that first brought him attention.