Malie Donn’s debut album ‘The Golden Child’ reaches No. 2 on Apple reggae chart
Key Points(5)
- Dancehall artiste Malie Donn is making an immediate impact in the United States with his debut studio album, The Golden Child, which has reached No 2 on the US Apple Music Reggae Albums chart just one day after its release.
- Released on September 4 via VP Records, the 21-track album has moved ahead of Masicka’s Forever Reign on the ranking, signalling a strong early response to Malie Donn’s first full-length studio project.
- Jawara on The Rock Lifestyle Jawara on The Rock September 6, 2026 This achievement forms part of a wider opening for The Golden Child, which has also earned Top 10 Apple Music placements across several Caribbean markets.
- The chart activity builds on Malie Donn’s growing momentum following the success of Holiday, Van Cleef and Vancleef Pt 2, while further establishing him as one of the leading voices within dancehall’s new generation.
- Rooted in the experiences that have shaped his journey from Spanish Town to Waterford, Portmore, The Golden Child presents a broader picture of Malie Donn’s artistry.
Dancehall artist Malie Donn is making an early impact in the United States with his debut studio album, The Golden Child, which reached No. 2 on the US Apple Music Reggae Albums chart just one day after its release.
Released Sept. 4 through VP Records, the 21-track project moved ahead of Masicka’s Forever Reign on the ranking, marking a strong opening for Malie Donn’s first full-length studio album.
The Golden Child has also secured Top 10 Apple Music placements in several Caribbean markets, extending a run of momentum for the Spanish Town-born, Portmore-raised artiste.
Born Kimalie Hylton, Malie Donn emerged as one of the prominent names in dancehall’s younger generation following a string of releases, including V6, which became one of Jamaica’s biggest songs in 2023.
His recent singles Van Cleef and Vancleef Pt 2 have further expanded his audience. The two songs simultaneously occupied the top two positions on YouTube Jamaica for the week ending Aug. 13, with Vancleef Pt 2 reaching No. 1 and Van Cleef climbing to No. 2.
Van Cleef, released in June, has since accumulated more than 8 million views on YouTube.
Malie Donn followed the original track with Vancleef Pt 2, which continued to perform strongly ahead of the album's release. For the week ending Sept. 3, Vancleef Pt 2 ranked No. 3 on YouTube Jamaica, while Van Cleef was No. 5.
The success comes several years after Malie Donn began attracting attention with songs including Bank, Crook, Cash Code, Pressure in Life and Survivor. His interest in music dates back to his years at Waterford Primary School and developed further while attending Bridgeport High School.
Before releasing his debut album, Malie Donn issued The Grand Rising EP through VP Records in 2024, followed by Leak the Hard Drive in 2025.
The Golden Child builds on that foundation while presenting a broader picture of the artiste's journey from Jones Avenue in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, to Waterford, Portmore.
The album blends Malie Donn’s melodic delivery with trap-influenced dancehall production and explores themes including ambition, pressure, lifestyle, relationships and personal growth.
The project is led by Golden Child, featuring Squash. Other collaborations include DJ Frass on Drum, Byron Messia on Free 6ix Boss, Antuwang on Trackstar and Javo Donn on Club Lit.
The track list also includes Holiday, Live Life, Lucid, No Fear, Time A Night, Miami, Winning, Shipment, Rated R and DRXGZ.
Holiday, released in August ahead of the album, has surpassed 1 million views on YouTube.
The album marks another milestone in Malie Donn's rise from a local breakout artiste to a dancehall act increasingly reaching audiences outside Jamaica.
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