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Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt Is Going For Gold In The Music Industry

AMARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt is known as the fastest human being in the world.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: Streaking away already, it's Bolt all the way. He's looking around again. Watch the clock. It's gold for Bolt - a new world record for Usain Bolt.

MARTÍNEZ: Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals. He retired from sprinting four years ago.

NOEL KING, HOST:

Now he is going for gold again - this time, a gold record.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IT'S A PARTY")

USAIN BOLT AND NJ: (Singing) It's a, it's a party. This is how we do it seven days of the week. Girls, them getting naughty (ph).

KING: Nice. That's from his first album, a mixture of reggae, afrobeats and dancehall music. There are also some ballads...

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DAYS LIKE THESE")

BOLT AND NJ: (Singing) I'm always having days like these. I just need a break

KING: ...And a little bit of rap.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IT A WORK")

USAIN BOLT AND CHARLY BLACK: (Rapping) Babe, let me love, let me love, let me love, let me love, let me love, let me love, ya.

MARTÍNEZ: The album is called "Country Yutes." The country, in this case, refers to Trelawny Parish. That's a small town in Jamaica where Bolt grew up.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LIVING THE DREAM")

BOLT AND NJ: (Singing) 'Cause I came from the country living the dream. Work hard every day. Never change up the routine.

KING: Now this is not the first time we've heard Usain Bolt as a musician. He's released a few singles over the years, and so far, his music career is a lot like his career on the track. Not long after its release, "Country Yutes" sprinted to the top of the reggae charts.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IT'S A PARTY")

BOLT AND NJ: (Singing) It's a, it's a party. This is how we do it seven days of the week. Girls, them getting naughty... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.