Music

GTA San Andreas came out on the PlayStation 2 on October 26, 2004, with eleven radio stations: ten music stations and the talk station WCTR, all tuned to the state of San Andreas in 1992. Between them they play 155 songs, and for the first time in the series every one of them is a licensed track, from 1950s country to the gangsta rap of the early nineties. It is also the first game where the radio is not a single looped recording: the game shuffles the songs, DJ chatter, adverts and weather reports itself, and some programmes change as the story moves on. On PC and Xbox there is a User Track Player for your own MP3 and OGG files, which can play them in order, shuffled, or as a makeshift station with adverts between the songs; the iOS version calls it Mixtape. The tracklists below are the original 2004 ones; songs that later went missing because their licences ran out are noted under each station, by name wherever the names are known.

Playback FM: late-eighties East Coast hip-hop, with Chuck D behind the host

Classic East Coast hip-hop from the late eighties, hosted by Forth Right MC, who is voiced by Public Enemy's Chuck D, so his own band's "Rebel Without a Pause" is on the playlist. "Critical Beatdown" by Ultramagnetic MCs is missing from the later re-releases.

1. "Road to the Riches" - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
2. "Warm It Up, Kane" - Big Daddy Kane
3. "The Godfather" - Spoonie Gee
4. "Me and the Biz" - Masta Ace
5. "Children's Story" - Slick Rick
6. "Rebel Without a Pause" - Public Enemy
7. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim
8. "It Takes Two" - Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
9. "B.Y.S." - Gang Starr
10. "Vapors" - Biz Markie
11. "Brand Nubian" - Brand Nubian
12. "Critical Beatdown" - Ultramagnetic MCs

K-Rose: country with a 1999 recording and a cover

Classic country broadcast from Bone County, with Mary-Beth Maybell, the self-styled "Widow Queen of the Prairie", on the mic. Mickey Gilley's "Make the World Go Away" is a 1999 recording, newer than the 1992 setting. The "I Love a Rainy Night" heard in the game is not Eddie Rabbitt's own recording but a cover; the soundtrack box set has the original. K-Rose kept its full playlist until the Definitive Edition, which dropped "One Step Forward".

1. "Amos Moses" - Jerry Reed
2. "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" - Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
3. "Hey Good Lookin'" - Hank Williams
4. "Queen of Hearts" - Juice Newton
5. "New York City" - The Statler Brothers
6. "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" - Asleep At The Wheel
7. "One Step Forward" - The Desert Rose Band
8. "Crazy (1961 Demo)" - Willie Nelson
9. "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray" - Patsy Cline
10. "Bed of Roses" - The Statler Brothers
11. "Make the World Go Away" - Mickey Gilley
12. "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" - Ed Bruce
13. "Always Wanting You" - Merle Haggard
14. "All My Ex's Live in Texas" - Whitey Shafer
15. "I Love a Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt

K-DST: classic rock, and Axl Rose voicing a washed-up rocker

Classic rock on "The Dust", hosted by Tommy "The Nightmare" Smith, voiced by Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, a washed-up former member of the fictional seventies prog act Crystal Ship. Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream" and Joe Cocker's "Woman to Woman" are missing from the later re-releases.

1. "Slow Ride" - Foghat
2. "Green River" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. "Barracuda" - Heart
4. "Strutter" - Kiss
5. "Hold the Line" - Toto
6. "Young Turks" - Rod Stewart
7. "Runnin' Down a Dream" - Tom Petty
8. "Woman to Woman" - Joe Cocker
9. "Get Down to It" - Humble Pie
10. "Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad
11. "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. "A Horse with No Name" - America
13. "Eminence Front" - The Who
14. "Smokin'" - Boston
15. "Somebody Up There Likes Me" - David Bowie
16. "Two Tickets to Paradise" - Eddie Money
17. "White Wedding" - Billy Idol

Bounce FM: funk on the Party Ship, hosted by George Clinton

Funk, disco, soul and R&B on "The Party Ship", hosted by The Funktipus, who is voiced by George Clinton, and his own "Loopzilla" is on the playlist too. Three songs are missing from the later re-releases: "Yum Yum (Gimme Some)", "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" and "Running Away".

1. "Let It Whip" - Dazz Band
2. "Yum Yum (Gimme Some)" - Fatback Band
3. "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" - The Gap Band
4. "Hollywood Swinging" - Kool & the Gang
5. "Candy" - Cameo
6. "Love Is The Message (Love Groove Bonus)" - MFSB feat. The Three Degrees
7. "Odyssey (7" Single)" - Johnny Harris
8. "Running Away" - Roy Ayers
9. "Love Rollercoaster" - Ohio Players
10. "Between The Sheets" - The Isley Brothers
11. "I Can Make You Dance" - Zapp
12. "Cold Blooded" - Rick James
13. "West Coast Poplock" - Ronnie Hudson and The Street People
14. "Loopzilla" - George Clinton
15. "Funky Worm" - Ohio Players
16. "Twilight" - Maze
17. "Fantastic Voyage" - Lakeside

SF-UR: early house, and the one music station off the box set

San Fierro Underground Radio plays early house music, presented by the excitable German Hans Oberlander (voiced by Lloyd Floyd). It is the only music station left off the eight-disc soundtrack box set. The playlist survived every re-release until the Definitive Edition, which dropped "Voodoo Ray".

1. "Promised Land (Club Mix)" - Joe Smooth feat. Anthony Thomas
2. "Pacific 202" - 808 State
3. "Voodoo Ray (Original Mix)" - A Guy Called Gerald
4. "Your Love" - Frankie Knuckles feat. Jamie Principle
5. "Break 4 Love" - Raze
6. "Ma Foom Bey (Love Chant Version)" - Cultural Vibe
7. "Make My Body Rock (The Basic Mix)" - Jomanda
8. "Someday" - CeCe Rogers
9. "Let The Music Use You" - Nightwriters
10. "Can You Feel It? (Chuck D. Mix)" - Mr. Fingers
11. "Move Your Body" - Marshall Jefferson
12. "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (K & T Mix)" - Maurice
13. "Weekend" - The Todd Terry Project
14. "The Morning After (Sunrise Mix)" - Fallout
15. "I'll Be Your Friend (Original DEF Mix)" - Robert Owens
16. "I Need A Rhythm" - The 28th Street Crew

Radio Los Santos: gangsta rap, with two artists acting in the game

Contemporary West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap, hosted by Julio G, who preaches peace in the neighbourhood between tracks that do anything but. Two of the artists also act in the game: MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted voices Ryder, and Kid Frost voices T-Bone Mendez. 2Pac's "I Don't Give a Fuck" and N.W.A.'s "Express Yourself" are missing from the later re-releases.

1. "I Don't Give a Fuck" - 2Pac feat. Pogo
2. "Hood Took Me Under" - Compton's Most Wanted
3. "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
4. "The Ghetto" - Too $hort
5. "Alwayz into Somethin'" - N.W.A. feat. Admiral Dancehall
6. "Check Yo Self (The Message Remix)" - Ice Cube feat. Das EFX
7. "La Raza" - Kid Frost
8. "How I Could Just Kill a Man" - Cypress Hill
9. "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')" - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg, RBX, Jewell
10. "It's Funky Enough" - The D.O.C.
11. "Express Yourself" - N.W.A.
12. "It Was a Good Day" - Ice Cube
13. "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" - Eazy-E
14. "Murder Rap" - Above the Law
15. "Deep Cover" - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
16. "Guerillas in tha Mist" - Da Lench Mob feat. Ice Cube

Radio X: grunge and metal, and a restaurant date that lost its song

Alternative rock, grunge and metal for Generation X, hosted by the nihilistic Sage (voiced by Jodie Shawback). Ozzy Osbourne's "Hellraiser" and Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" are missing from the later re-releases; the latter also played during a failed restaurant date, where a jingle now takes its place.

1. "Unsung" - Helmet
2. "Personal Jesus" - Depeche Mode
3. "Midlife Crisis" - Faith No More
4. "Mother" - Danzig
5. "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
6. "Movin' on Up" - Primal Scream
7. "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
8. "Pretend We're Dead" - L7
9. "Hellraiser" - Ozzy Osbourne
10. "Rusty Cage" - Soundgarden
11. "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine
12. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction
13. "Fools Gold" - The Stone Roses
14. "Them Bones" - Alice in Chains
15. "Plush" - Stone Temple Pilots

CSR 103.9: new jack swing, and the one station still complete

Contemporary Soul Radio: new jack swing, modern soul and pop, hosted by Phillip "PM" Michaels, who is voiced by Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. The original PlayStation 2 release labelled it "CSR 103.2". It is the only station whose playlist is still complete in the Definitive Edition.

1. "I'm So Into You" - SWV
2. "Keep On Movin'" - Soul II Soul
3. "So You Like What You See" - Samuelle
4. "Rub You the Right Way" - Johnny Gill
5. "Sensitivity" - Ralph Tresvant
6. "Groove Me" - Guy
7. "Don't Be Afraid" - Aaron Hall
8. "Motownphilly" - Boyz II Men
9. "Poison" - Bell Biv DeVoe
10. "I Got the Feeling" - Today
11. "New Jack Swing" - Wreckx-n-Effect
12. "Don't Be Cruel" - Bobby Brown
13. "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue

K-JAH West: reggae from the West Coast cousin of K-Jah

Reggae, dub and dancehall, with two bickering Jamaican hosts, Marshall Peters and Johnny Lawton, voiced by Lowell Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. It is the West Coast cousin of K-Jah from GTA III. The first two songs, "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" and "Ring My Bell", are missing from the later re-releases.

1. "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" - Black Harmony
2. "Ring My Bell" - Blood Sisters
3. "Wicked Inna Bed" - Shabba Ranks
4. "Batty Rider" - Buju Banton
5. "King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown" - Augustus Pablo
6. "Revolution" - Dennis Brown
7. "Armagideon Time" - Willi Williams
8. "Sidewalk Killer" - I-Roy
9. "Funky Kingston" - Toots & The Maytals
10. "Cokane in My Brain" - Dillinger
11. "Pressure Drop" - Toots & The Maytals
12. "Bam Bam" - Pliers
13. "Here I Come" - Barrington Levy
14. "Drum Pan Sound" - Reggie Stepper
15. "Great Train Robbery" - Black Uhuru
16. "Chase The Devil" - Max Romeo & The Upsetters

Master Sounds 98.3: rare groove, and the station that lost the most

Rare groove, classic funk and soul, hosted by Johnny "The Love Giant" Parkinson (voiced by Ricky Harris). The station likes to point out that hip-hop acts sample these records without paying royalties. It lost the most in the re-releases: six songs are missing, among them two by James Brown.

1. "Express Yourself" - Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
2. "Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)" - Maceo & The Macks
3. "Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba" - Harlem Underground Band
4. "Jungle Fever" - The Chakachas
5. "Nautilus" - Bob James
6. "Green Onions" - Booker T. & the MG's
7. "Rock Creek Park" - The Blackbyrds
8. "Hot Pants - I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming" - Bobby Byrd
9. "Funky President (People It's Bad)" - James Brown
10. "Rock Me Again And Again" - Lyn Collins
11. "Soul Power '74" - Maceo & The Macks
12. "I Know You Got Soul" - Bobby Byrd
13. "The Payback" - James Brown
14. "Think (About It)" - Lyn Collins
15. "The Grunt" - The JB's
16. "Low Rider" - War
17. "Tainted Love" - Gloria Jones
18. "(I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind" - Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul

WCTR: talk radio that follows the story

West Coast Talk Radio plays no music, only shows, and its programmes change as the story progresses.

• WCTR News: Lianne Forget anchors it and reporter Richard Burns covers events from your own missions.
• The Tight End Zone: sports, with Derrick Thackery.
• The Wild Traveler: James Pedeaston.
• Gardening with Maurice.
• I Say/You Say: a husband-and-wife political debate.
• Lonely Hearts: an advice show, which Fernando Martinez hijacks from Christy MacIntyre.
• Area 53: a conspiracy show with Marvin Trill.
• Entertaining America: host Billy Dexter is accidentally shot dead on air by Jack Howitzer, and after a long break Lazlow takes over.

Two soundtracks, and 18 songs gone

Interscope released two official soundtracks. The Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Official Soundtrack came out on November 23, 2004, as two CDs of selected songs plus a DVD with the short film The Introduction; it also carries AFI's cover of "Head Like a Hole", which is not in the game. The eight-disc Official Soundtrack Box Set followed on December 7, 2004, split by station and genre, without SF-UR and WCTR. It uses Eddie Rabbitt's own "I Love a Rainy Night" and the original 1975 "Always Wanting You" by Merle Haggard, while the game itself has a cover and a 2004 re-recording.

As licences expired, 18 songs disappeared from the later versions of the game:

• the mobile ports
• the PS2 Classics on PlayStation 3, 4 and 5
• the Rockstar Games Launcher PC release
• Xbox One and Xbox Series
• The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition

K-Rose, SF-UR and CSR 103.9 were untouched by that cut. The Definitive Edition then removed one more song each from K-Rose and SF-UR, which leaves CSR 103.9 as the only station still playing its full 2004 list.