Jamaican dancehall has a new major-label debut. 1Ski OG released his first album, Alter Ego, on Friday, 25 September 2026 through Against Da Grain/Epic Records. The 15-track project is the fullest statement yet from an artiste many Jamaicans first knew by another name, doing a different job.
Who is 1Ski OG?
Before the music, there was Valdomore, the comedian and actor who built a large following through social media skits. The turn came in 2023, when his song "Dawkniss" went viral and showed that the audience would follow him into the studio. In December 2024 he signed an international record deal.
The road from that deal to this album was not smooth. As 13th Street Promotions noted in its coverage, some of the singles that followed the signing did not connect the way they were expected to. He kept releasing, found a lane, and arrives at his debut with real momentum. Billboard has named him one of its Caribbean Artists to Watch, and his music has picked up playlist support from Apple Music and Audiomack.
What is on the album
The title is the concept. Alter Ego is built to show different sides of the same artiste, and the tracklist divides fairly cleanly into moods:
- Faith and reflection. The album opens with "The Lord" featuring Sortie, the single that introduced the project. It sets a tone of resilience and gratitude rather than bravado.
- Vulnerability. "Stay To Mi Self" and "Life of a Man" featuring Romieikon are the most personal records here.
- The harder edge. "Riches Forever," "Mad Dem," "Options" and "Ratatata" are aimed at the streets.
- For the dance. "Have You Ever" featuring Sortie, "Miss Independent" and "Ay Gyal" move toward romance and the dance floor.
Production comes from Sartout Records, Romieikon, Vault Entertainment, Maurice Linton of ArmzHouse Records and Dxntemadeit, among others.
Why it matters
Two things stand out about this release beyond the songs.
First, the route. A decade ago the idea of a social media comedian signing to a label under the Epic umbrella and delivering a full-length dancehall album would have sounded unlikely. The path from content creator to recording artiste is now an established one, and 1Ski OG is one of the clearest Jamaican examples of it working.
Second, the format. Dancehall remains a singles-driven business, where a strong riddim or a viral clip can do more for a career than an album. Choosing to open a debut with a song about faith, and sequencing 15 tracks around distinct moods, is a bet that listeners will sit with a body of work. How the album performs in the coming weeks will say something about whether that bet pays off for newer acts.
Also out: the week in new dancehall and reggae
1Ski OG was far from the only artiste releasing music at the end of September. Here is what else arrived:
- Chronic Law delivered two singles on 30 September, "Small Talk" and "Freedom Soon."
- Intence released "Let This Go" the same day.
- Junior Reid, the veteran roots singer, returned with "Cool Breeze Blowing."
- Sizwe C dropped "Push It Back."
- Shawn Storm released "Tun It Up" on 28 September.
- Compass put out "Town Craft."
- Shatta Wale, the Ghanaian dancehall star, released "Count Of Monte Cristo."
On the charts, Rugged Boss entered the US iTunes Reggae Songs chart at number six with "Handle" on 26 September.
Where to start
If you only have time for three songs from Alter Ego, try "The Lord" for the statement of intent, "Stay To Mi Self" for the reflective side, and "Ay Gyal" for the dance. Together they give a fair picture of what the album is trying to do.
Have you listened yet? Tell us your standout track in the comments below.