2. Classic Rock

Example name: The Eagle 100

Labelled as ‘classic’, but under this banner is a whole host of rock sub-genres from boogie and prog to glam and psychedelic. Essentially you’re probably looking at the biggest station of the entire package (as Liberty Rock Radio was). One of the most, if not the most, popular stations on San Andreas was K-DST, so it would seem awfully strange if a spiritual successor wasn’t in the offing here. I’d envisage many of the same artists from ‘The Dust’, plus first-timers such as California bands Count Five and Jefferson Airplane and naturally, the Small Faces song from the first trailer.

Playlist suggestions:

  • Foghat – Easy Money
  • Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival – Up Around The Bend
  • John Mellencamp – Crumblin’ Down
  • Free – The Hunter
  • Golden Earring – Radar Love
  • The Doors – People Are Strange
  • Count Five – Psychotic Reaction
  • Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra
  • Queen – Breakthru
  • Grand Funk Railroad – Time Machine
  • Harry Nilsson – Gotta Get Up
  • Small Faces – Ogdens Nut Gone Flake
  • George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Bad To The Bone
  • Wings – Hi Hi Hi
  • Dire Straits – Walk Of Life
  • David Bowie – Rebel Rebel
  • ZZ Top – Got Me Under Pressure

Chances of inclusion: 95%

3. Country & Western

Example name: Roadhouse 107.0

Since the start of the PS2 era there has only been one solitary country music playlist. But as that appeared in San Andreas, there is every likelihood it will return for a second showing. It’s only other appearance was in the very first GTA game; the brief but highly memorable Fergus Buckner Show, with vocalist Hank O’Malley singing the immortal lines “the menfolk found their women scary, cos they were so big and hairy”. Contrary to K-Rose, I think embracing a fair few modern country ditties will keep the semblance ‘current’ and refine the broadcast as one for all ages. Whether you relish the genre or not, it just feels natural to be listening to honky tonk and rockabilly as you wistfully plod across pastures in your tractor.

Playlist suggestions:

  • Randy Travis – Forever and Ever, Amen
  • Willie Nelson – On The Road Again
  • The Statler Brothers – The Movies
  • George Jones – The Race Is On
  • Marty Robbins – Big Iron
  • The Dillards – Old Man at the Mill
  • Hank Williams Sr. – Move It On Over
  • Charley Pride – Kiss An Angel Good Morning
  • Zac Brown Band – Keep Me In Mind
  • Ryan Bingham – Southside Of Heaven
  • Mel Street – Smokey Mountain Memories
  • Johnny Cash – One Way Rider
  • Old Crow Medicine Show – I Hear Them All
  • Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)

Chances of Inclusion: 90%

4. Modern Rap

Example name: Money Radio

There were two ways I could categorise rap: either ‘old school’ and ‘modern’ or ‘East coast’ and ‘West coast’, but I opted for the former to generate a more decisive genre divide. By modern, I’m classifying it as in the past decade. The rap music of GTA games, more so than any other genre, feature artists that hail from the recreated locale – think Snoop, Dre & NWA in San Andreas (more on them later); Nas, Ghostface Killah & Busta Rhymes in Liberty City on IV – which is why I consider an entire station devoted to the East coast unwise.  With this philosophy in mind, I imagine many California-based artists will be involved, such as Kendrick Lamar and Hopsin to name but two.

Playlist suggestions:

  • Nas – Nasty
  • Inspectah Deck (Feat. Masta Killa) – Sound of the Slums
  • Glasses Malone – Kickstand
  • Shade Sheist (Feat. Nate Dogg) – Cali Diseaz
  • Kendrick Lamar – HiiiPower
  • Method Man & Redman – Da Rockwilder
  • Crooked I – Everythang
  • Ghostface Killah (Feat. Black Thought) – In Tha Park
  • Future – Turn On The Lights
  • DJ Khaled (Feat. Rick Ross, Meek Mill, French Montana & Jadakiss) – I Did It For My Dawgs
  • Hopsin – Ill Mind Of Hopsin 4
  • Big K.R.I.T – Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed & Encouring Racism
  • Ras Kass – Holes in the Ozone
  • Sean Paul – Get Busy

Chances of inclusion: 80%

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