Who Is Malie Donn? Real Name, Age, Hometown, Songs and Album
Malie Donn is a Jamaican dancehall artist from St Catherine whose songs about poverty, pressure and pushing forward have made him one of the most talked-about young acts in the genre. In September 2026 he released his debut album, The Golden Child, through VP Records. Here are straight answers to the questions people search for most.
Malie Donn quick facts
Real name: Kimalie Akeem Kezrick Hylton
Born: December 18, 2001
From: Jones Avenue, Spanish Town, St Catherine; grew up in Waterford, Portmore
Genre: Dancehall
Manager and producer: Attomatic (Active Music / Attomatic Records)
Releases: The Grand Rising EP (2024), Leak the Hard Drive EP (2025), The Golden Child album (2026)
What is Malie Donn's real name?
Malie Donn's real name is Kimalie Hylton. Some Jamaican press reports spell his first name Kimarlie, but his label bio and most recent coverage use Kimalie. His stage name comes from his first name, Malie, with "Donn" added.
How old is Malie Donn?
Malie Donn is 25 years old. Born on December 18, 2001.
Where is Malie Donn from?
Malie Donn was born on Jones Avenue in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Jamaica. He grew up in Waterford, Portmore, also in St Catherine, and he often credits both communities in his music.
Where did Malie Donn go to school?
He attended Waterford Primary School and then Bridgeport High School, where he graduated with 12 subjects. He has said his interest in music began in primary school.
How did Malie Donn get started in music?
Before music took over, Malie Donn ran track and competed at ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships and overseas meets such as the Penn Relays. He gave up athletics to focus on music, and in the early days he saved his lunch money to pay for studio time. Songs such as Militancy, Bank and Crook built his following in Jamaica before he reached a wider audience.
Who raised Malie Donn?
He was raised mainly by his grandparents while his parents lived overseas. His mother moved to the United States when he was eight, and he helped look after his younger siblings. He has described his mother, a born-again Christian, as a strong supporter of his career.
What kind of music does Malie Donn make?
Malie Donn makes dancehall with a focus on real-life struggle: poverty, pressure, survival and the push to do better for his family. He has said he steers away from gun songs and wants his music to uplift listeners, while still making party records for the dance.
What are Malie Donn's biggest songs?
Some of his most popular songs include:
Militancy, Bank and Crook (early breakthrough songs)
Cash Code, Pressure in Life and Survivor
V6, Cups Up and Hennergy
7:00 and 8 PM, with Armanii
Body Tea, Dirty Mirror and Van Cleef
Simon Says, which reached No. 18 on YouTube's Trending for Music in May 2025
Suspect, Dark and Corrupt, High Roller and Rum Please
Holiday (August 2026)
Read our earlier post on Little Miss Crippy, produced by DJ Frass.
What albums and EPs has Malie Donn released?
The Grand Rising EP (2024): released through VP Records.
Leak the Hard Drive EP (2025): 12 tracks with features from Jada Kingdom, Byron Messia, Govana and Armanii, including Love Existence, 9 PM, Birthday Affairs, Night Is Young and Hennergy Pt 2.
The Golden Child (2026): his debut album, released September 4, 2026 on VP Records. It has 21 tracks, and the title track features Squash.
The Golden Child reached No. 2 on the US Apple Music reggae albums chart within 24 hours. Read our story on The Golden Child.
Who manages Malie Donn?
Malie Donn is managed by Attomatic of Active Music / Attomatic Records, who is also one of his main producers. Producer Dan Sky (Salanio Roberts) has also worked closely with him.
What record label is Malie Donn with?
His EP The Grand Rising and his debut album The Golden Child were released through VP Records, the New York-based reggae and dancehall label, working with his team at Attomatic Records.
What happened to Malie Donn in Barbados?
In August 2023, Malie Donn and four members of his team were held by police in Barbados after an allegation was made against them. The Jamaica Observer reported that they were released after about five hours. His team said video footage showed the incident was an attempt to extort them, and Malie Donn publicly thanked the Barbados police for their handling of it.
Where can I listen to Malie Donn?
His music is on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming services. Follow Dancehall League for new releases, reviews and events across Jamaica.
Sources
