GTA 6‘s radio stations will have some famous voices behind them, and not just in their repertoire. The DJs of several Leonida stations are famous music stars, such as Bad Bunny, Lana Del Rey, and Slayer’s Tom Araya and Kerry King, as confirmed today.
Rockstar previewed a handful of radio stations today, with a startling variety of genres already in the limited showcase. Several of their DJs are accomplished musicians in their own right, helping make the Leonida music scene feel even more organic, vibrant, and enticing.
The biggest name on the roster so far is likely Bad Bunny. In addition to having one song on the Vice City airwaves, the Puerto Rican songwriter takes the helm of Latin music radio Cocoteo FM as El Martillo. His co-host, La Gata, is played by singer RaiNao.
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If the mere mention of Lana Del Rey sends you back to the 2010s (with traumatic flashbacks potentially included), GTA 6 will be a bit of a throwback. She plays Delta Dawne, co-host of country-soaked Back Country Radio alongside country artist Morgan Wallen (who goes by the moniker of MW in-universe). Del Rey’s husband will also appear throughout the game.
Del Rey, a fan of the franchise for years, called the opportunity “super special and a privilege,” according to Rolling Stone. Some of her family could navigate real-life Los Angeles easily despite never being there, she recounts, because of how much they played in GTA V‘s Los Santos.
On the flip side, the high-octane The Chamber 106.6 is helmed by Slayer’s Tom Araya and Kerry King, with Raining Blood featuring on its repertoire. The song was also present in the original Vice City under V-Rock, so that’s a nice full-circle moment.
The rest of the stage names aren’t exactly subtle. Swedish DJ Robyn and Californian model Alex Consani will handle the pickups for Flash FM, Vice City‘s returning pop powerhouse, as Robyn and Alex. Rappers Trick Daddy (as Trick) and Trina are spearheading rap/hip-hop mainstay Dirty South Classics. Burna Boy and Palms Trax command Afrobank FM’s groovy beats as Burna and Palms.
The radio lineup is certainly a positive surprise after the relatively weak singles Rockstar released. Our own Aidan O’Brien criticized the singles on Destructoid’s Checkpoint Newsletter, firing a particularly high-caliber shot at country singer and in-game DJ Morgan Wallen.
Having famous musicians leading the in-game radio stations is hardly new for Rockstar. As a Guns N’ Roses fan, hearing Axl Rose as the DJ for San Andreas’ K-DST on the PlayStation 2 made me like the station even more. Yes, the Guitar Hero kid in me was still tuned into Radio X, but the Dust was an amazing second choice.
The radio samples are just a microcosm of what awaits players when GTA 6 releases on Nov. 19. So far, all of its radios seem quite appealing, and I could see myself gunning henchmen to the sound of Black Sabbath as much as running away from a car chase with the catchy, energetic beats radiating from Afrobank FM. Until it releases, though, the best I can do is play GTA Online and play those songs on Spotify.
