A score to a game or film usually highlights a specific emotion being displayed on the screen. But when the majority of a game is at the discretion of the player, it gets harder to properly curate the experience. Enter the dynamic radio stations of Grand Theft Auto V. They serve as a soundtrack to the living and breathing city of Los Santos with voices and music as diverse as its inhabitants. Each station tells a narrative of its own allowing the player to color every car ride, heist, or aimless drive with tones befitting their mood. In Grand Theft Auto V, the music amplifies the action, helping to shape and define every experience.
What radio station is “best” is very much a subjective issue that depends on a player’s personal taste and mood. But that said, there is only one place in the gaming world that comes prepackaged with the sounds of Spice 1 and Geto Boys.
West Coast Classics 95.6 FM
Let’s go ahead and start off with the best station in Grand Theft Auto V, West Coast Classics. It feels like less a radio station and more like an audio blueprint of Los Santos. As the player makes their way through Rockstar’s – somehow more – volatile version of LA, this station reverberates with the authentic pulse of the West Coast culture. DJ Pooh’s expert curation showcases his rich knowledge of hip-hop, which plays as a nice counter to the modern sounds of the other stations of Los Santos. It’s not just about the music; the interludes, filled with humor, references, and insights, ground players further into the game’s cultural landscape.
West Coast Classics offers an atmosphere, an ambiance, and a deep dive into a world where the sun-soaked streets meet timeless rhythms. In the vast radio landscape of Grand Theft Auto V, it emerges not just as a station but as an essential experience, effortlessly merging narrative and nostalgia.
Notable Tracks
- Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”
- Spice 1 featuring MC Eiht “The Murda Show”
- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony “1st of Tha Month”
- Too $hort “So You Want to be a Gangster”
FlyLo FM
Racing through the streets of Los Santos with FlyLo FM blaring through the car speakers is like plunging into the electrifying undercurrents of the city’s contemporary soundscape. A heady mix of avant-garde hip-hop and electronic glitches, it compliments the modern urban flair that Grand Theft Auto V provides. Curated by lo-fi god and Aphex-Twin-of-Hip-Hop Flying Lotus, it takes players on an auditory odyssey. The music blends genres, breaks norms, and pushes the boundaries of what an in-game radio station can deliver. The beats are eclectic, often unpredictable, yet fitting for a game that constantly challenges its players with twists and turns. The interludes – with their surreal humor and unexpected commentaries – encapsulate the quirks and nuances of Los Santos’ diverse residents.
While other stations might rely on nostalgia or traditional grooves, FlyLo FM represents the progressive heartbeat of an ever-evolving modern city. It stands out not merely for its music but for capturing the essence of a Los Santos that’s as vibrant, eclectic, and unpredictable as its playlist.
Notable Tracks
- Flying Lotus featuring Krayzie Bone “Medication Medication”
- Aphex Twin “Windowlicker”
- Outkast “Elevators (Me & You)
- Tyler, the Creator “Garbage”
Vinewood Boulevard Radio
Vinewood Boulevard Radio is a refreshing break from the usual glitz of Rockstar’s shiny Hollywood surrogate. Focused on indie and alternative rock, it captures the less glamorized, more genuine spirit of Los Santos. Guided by Nate Williams and Stephen Pope of Wavves, it highlights the dreamy grit of the city’s – well, clearly hypothetical – underground rock scene. In a place often overshadowed by its larger-than-life image, it offers a playlist that resonates with the everyday life and emotions of its residents.
Vinewood Boulevard Radio is the go-to station for those who appreciate the approachable but raw sounds of rock-and-roll.
Notable Tracks
- Thee Oh Sees “The Dream”
- Metz “Wet Blanket”
- Ceremony “Hysteria”
- Moon Duo “Sleepwalker”
blonded Los Santos 97.8 FM
This may be cheating a bit considering the station wasn’t an in-box include being introduced in “The Doomsday Heist” update. Nonetheless, Blonded Los Santos 97.8 FM stands as an intriguing addition to Grand Theft Auto V‘s sonic landscape. Curated by the incomparable Frank Ocean alongside Vegyn, Roof Access, and Federico Aliprandi, this station serves up a finely-tuned selection of contemporary hip-hop, soul, and R&B, punctuated with timeless classics. As players weave through the streets and stories of Los Santos, Blonded 97.8 FM provides a rhythmic and diverse backdrop. Its hand-picked and thoughtful playlist feels organic, balancing moments of introspection with bursts of energy. The simulation of that semi-arty friend with the aux cord manages to mirror the ebb and flow of life in the game’s bustling metropolis.
Notable Tracks
- Burial “Hiders”
- Aphex Twin “IZ-US”
- ScHoolboy Q featuring Lance Skiiiwalker “Kno Ya Wrong”
- Panda Bear “Mr. Noah”
WorldWide FM
Worldwide FM in Grand Theft Auto V serves as an auditory passport, whisking players away to far-flung corners of the globe. Hosted and programmed by Gilles Peterson – and based on his eclectic BBC show (RIP) – the station is a kaleidoscope of sound. It manages to marry genres like jazz, electronica, hip-hop, and world music in seamless harmony. A selection that manages to feel as relevant when a player is speeding past sunbathers at Vespucci Beach as it does when riding the winding trails of Mount Chiliad. Worldwide FM crafts a diverse soundscape that feels simultaneously global and intimate. It’s a testament to the game’s commitment to representing the fluid sounds of a world it hopes to further explore.
Notable Tracks
- Portishead “Numb”
- Earl Sweatshirt featuring Vince Staples “Hive”
- Cashmere Cat “Mirror Maru”
- Mala “Ghost”