The highly anticipated latest edition of the popular Grand Theft Auto series, San Andreas, continues to push the open-ended, interactive shooter game genre to the all new heights. The game also continues to integrate music and video games in all new and exciting ways. Like the its predecessor, Vice City, the game features a variety of radio stations that offer a selection of music, this time with a late-‘80s/early-‘90s skew, and an accompanying double-disc soundtrack available independent of the game.

Rockstar Games will release the music as both a two-CD "best of" compilation and an eight-disc box set to U.S. consumers in the on November 23, 2004, nearly a month after the game hits stores on October 26. As a bonus the official soundtrack double CD will feature a separate stand-alone DVD containing The Introduction, the cinematic prologue to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The Introduction tells the full story of the events leading up to the character CJs return to San Andreas. The exclusive prequel is not available anywhere else features some familiar faces from previous editions of the series making a surprise return.

The music itself is taken from the era when films like Boyz N the Hood, Juice and Colors were at the forefront of pop culture. Gangsta rap is all over the soundtrack, but other genres play their part, too. James Brown's epic "The Payback" and Rick James' sexy "Cold Blooded" bring da funk funk, while Rage Against the Machine's heavy-handed "Killing in the Name" and Faith No More's jarring "Midlife Crisis" rep the alternative hard-rock crowd. Country (Willie Nelson), classic rock (Heart, Eddie Money) and reggae (the Maytals) are also represented. The only new track is AFI's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole." recorded exclusively for San Andreas.

The track list for the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas double album is:

Disc 1:
"The Theme From San Andreas"
Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
2Pac - "I Don't Give a F---"
James Brown - "The Payback"
Ronnie Hudson - "West Coast Poplock"
Guy - "Groove Me"
Eddie Money - "Two Tickets to Paradise"
Cypress Hill - "How I Could Just Kill a Man"
The Maytals - "Pressure Drop"
Slick Rick - "Children's Story"
Rick James - "Cold Blooded"
Raze - "Break 4 Love"

Disc 2:
Ohio Players - "Funky Worm"
Heart - "Barracuda"
Compton's Most Wanted - "Hood Took Me Under"
Lyn Collins - "Think (About It)"
Public Enemy - "Rebel Without a Pause"
Faith No More - "Midlife Crisis"
Bell Biv DeVoe - "Poison"
Max Romeo & the Upsetters - "Chase the Devil"
Eric B. & Rakim - "I Know You Got Soul"
Willie Nelson - "Crazy"
AFI - "Head Like a Hole"

In the game however, whenever the main character, CJ, carjacks a ride, the music heard is determined by the station the car's radio is tuned to. Players can listen to more than 150 tracks on 10 fully-functional fictitious, genre-specific radio stations with 20 DJs with music ranging from rap to rock, country to house, reggae to talk-radio.

In a major coup for the game, reclusive rock god Axl Rose, he of Guns n' Roses fame, provided the voice DJ Tommy "The Nightmare" Smith of K-DST DJ. Other DJs in the game include the voices of Public Enemy's Chuck D, Parliament/Funkadelic's George Clinton, dancehall stars Sly and Robbie, and comedian Andy Dick. Celebrities whose voices can be heard in the game include rappers Game and Ice-T, and actors Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Penn, James Woods, Peter Fonda, David Cross, Bijou Phillips and Charlie Murphy.

Designed by audio designer Allan Walker and producer Craig Connor, the radio aspect of the game has been completely overhauled. Now, instead of looping the sounds heard on each station, the dynamic setup allows each DJ to react to events in the game in real time. So every song is given a different, unique introduction based on who the DJ is and what is happening in the game. Players will now hear live weather bulletins, deadly accurate news updates, music blocks, custom track lead-ins and outs, and call-ins from people all over the state.

Additionally, since each vehicle has different speakers inside, every one will play songs differently. So a normal car will have a more balanced sound, while low riders will feature big bass and low-end boom. Players will also have access to a new optional feature that allows them to adjust the sound level of their ride to adjust for the style of music they are blastin’.

Below is a list of all ten music stations described in detail by Rockstar Games and their playlists:

RADIO:X - The Alternative
DJ - Sage
Format - Modern Rock
Station Description: Finally, there IS an alternative. The home of Modern Rock. This is a revolution. Guitars, nihilistic hedonism, and telling the elder generation to go screw themselves. Nobody has done this before. We are original thinkers. We are free. Sage leads the navel gazing; she is a remarkable talent. 
 
BOUNCE FM
DJ - The Funktipus
Format - Funk
Station Description: The indescribable Funktipus plays the indefinable funk. The sound that has had Los Santos partying for twenty years is now on 'The Party', on Bounce FM. The Funktipus will open your eyes to what is really happening out there. 

K-ROSE
DJ - Mary-Beth Maybell
Format - Country
Station Description: A broken heart never sounded so good. Country and Western music broadcast from Bone County across the whole state of San Andreas. All of the biggest artists, all of the best music. With the Widow Queen of the Prairie, Mary-Beth Maybell. 

RADIO LOS SANTOS
DJ - Julio G
Format - West Coast Hip-Hop
Station Description: Julio G breaks the sound of the streets. This is the West Coast taking over.

K-DST
DJ - Tommy "The Nightmare" Smith
Format - Classic Rock
Station Description: Tommy Smith, formerly with 1970s progressive rock act, Crystal Ship, has now taken up residence on the home of driving rock radio. K-DST 'The Dust' plays non-stop classic rock and roll.

MASTER SOUNDS 98.3
DJ - Johnny "The Love Giant" Parkinson
Format - Rare Groove
Station Description: The world's smallest giant, Johnny Parkinson, takes you on a musical, spiritual and sexual journey with a sound track of nonstop classics. The giants of soul, rare groove and just a little classic funk, hosted by the giant himself. Remember, height is not a number. 
 
SF-UR
DJ - Hans Oberlander
Format - House
Station Description: Quality house music, from deep in the underground, brought to you by an excitable German. This is music for people in the know.  
 
CSR 103:9
DJ - Philip "PM" Michaels
Format - New Jack Swing and Modern Soul
Station Description: Chart-topping and club friendly hits, brought to you by Philip 'PM' Michaels, entertainer. New Jack Swing and modern soul from today's hottest acts. Where soul meets preppy. Philip is also available for weddings, funerals and Bar Mitzvahs.

PLAYBACK
DJ - Forth Right MC
Format - Classic Hip-Hop
Station Description: The mouthiest man in hip-hop, Forth Right MC, brings real hip-hop to the left coast. East Coast sensibilities and Forth Right's unique brand of conspiracy theory lead you in a history lesson.

K-JAH RADIO WEST
DJ - Marshall Peters & Johnny Lawton
Format - Dub/Reggae
Station Description: From JA to SA. The legendary Marshall Law sound system has moved from Kingston to San Andreas, bringing with them the best in dancehall, raga, reggae and dub. It's one love as Peters and Lawton argue about everything. 
 
WCTR TALK RADIO
DJ - It's a secret
Format - Talk Radio
Station Description: It's a secret.