Chasing His Unfulfilled Dream, Usain Bolt Announces DJ Khaled As His Mentor

Usain Bolt almost became the fastest rapper in the world until he switched to track and field. Boasting eight gold medals, the 9.58 record holder has always been a music fanatic. Soon after retiring from mainstream track, Bolt slowly began his transition into the music industry. Speaking about his ambitions, the Jamaican stated that he wanted to win Grammy awards and make albums that ranks in the chartbusters for a long time. 

However, to grow and find his footing in the industry, Bolt had to find a suitable mentor. And surely he did. The 8x Olympic gold medalist is a longtime fan of DJ Khaled. In a recent social media clip, Bolt was spotted with DJ Khaled and even called him his mentor. What’s more, Bolt shared the secret of what made him take a liking to music. 

Usain Bolt reveals the secret of his affinity to music

Bolt uploaded a clip on his X account while interacting with DJ Khaled. The video started with the American record producer welcoming the Olympian by addressing him as an “inspiration”. While the seconds rolled on, the host discovered that Bolt was now being guided by DJ Khaled to produce quality music. Conversing about his new career, Bolt, sitting in his ‘Tracks & Records’ restaurant, opened up about how he ended up pursuing music as a career. 

Bolt immediately stated that music had been a passion for him since childhood. He initially aspired to be a disc jockey, but that plan got sidestepped when his antics in track and field came to the limelight. He also stated that back in the day, requests came in asking Bolt to play the DJ after his meets were over. Reflecting on the same, Bolt said, “Because at meets, after meets, they used to ask me to DJ… so I used to DJ after a few of the meets.” 

However, the Jamaican sprinter soon found out his area of expertise. He did not shy away from admitting that singing was not his forte. Rather, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, DJ Khaled, and work in production. Surprisingly, this revelation did not come to Bolt all of a sudden. Back in 2021, Usain Bolt released his debut music album. 

Bolt looks back on ‘Country Yutes’

Usain Bolt, together with NJ, released ‘Country Yutes’ in 2021. The album contained music from Afrobeats, Reggae, and dancehall combined. Speaking with Grammy.com, Bolt revealed that the album was based on his childhood and his struggles. He also mentioned that the entire album was shot in Kingston, Jamaica, and not in the United States. 

Bolt was also questioned about why athletes in general have an inclination towards music. The 37-year-old stated, “We enjoy music as athletes. It helped hype us up or calm us down depending on the type of genre. For the artists, it’s all about the hype to come to a sporting event to watch athletes perform at a high level.” Thus, with the Jamaican speedster embarking on a new journey, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate his track and field success into music or not.