Playback FM is a radio station featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It plays East Coast old-school hip-hop and golden age hip-hop. It is hosted by Forth Right MC (voiced by Chuck D.).
Description[]
— Shit, I can't see the mirror!
Old school hip hop, only on Playback FM.”
Playback FM's playlist consists of late 1980s rap by East Coast artists, in contrast to a similar hip-hop station, Radio Los Santos, whose playlist predominantly consists of early 1990s rap by West Coast acts. The station is said to be broadcasting from an "undisclosed location" in San Fierro.
Playback assumes a more retro and nostalgic nature, even though the oldest songs on the playlist were released only five years before the events of the game. Its idents scold listeners because "while they were going on with the 1980s pop style, these rappers were inventing hip hop". They also claim that if listeners want to "be learned on the history of hip hop", they must listen to this station. Playback also makes nostalgic comments such as that this kind of music "was the reason [its listeners] put that subwoofer in the car", and so the station could also represent Rockstar Games' homage to the early hip hop era.
Its DJ, Fort Right MC, is, as the idents boast, "the mouthiest man in hip-hop". He is a very opinionated guy who rants about politics, TV shows, women, science fiction, "nerd stuff" and aliens. He believes East Coast rap is superior to its West Coast counterpart. He also hates the people living on the West Coast and says he wants another earthquake to hit San Andreas. His presenting style is unpopular, as the majority of his callers want him to play the records instead of listening to his ramblings. Radio Los Santos host Julio G agrees with this view, as he says that the songs on Playback are "great" but that "its DJ is whack".
Playback FM is the favorite station of the Varrios Los Aztecas.
The soundtrack to this station was released together with Radio Los Santos as part of the eight-CD Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Official Soundtrack Box Set.
Tracklist[]
| Song: | Preview: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| "Road to the Riches" by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1989) | ||
| "Warm It Up, Kane" by Big Daddy Kane (1989) | ||
| "The Godfather" by Spoonie Gee (1987) | ||
| "Me and the Biz" by Masta Ace (1990) | ||
| "Children's Story" by Slick Rick (1988) | ||
| "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy (1987) | ||
| "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim (1987) | ||
| "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock (1988) | ||
| "B.Y.S." by Gang Starr (1992) | ||
| "Vapors" by Biz Markie (1988) | ||
| "Brand Nubian" by Brand Nubian (1989) | ||
| "Critical Beatdown" by Ultramagnetic MCs (1988) | This song is missing from the iOS, Android, PS2 Classics (PS3, PS4 and PS5), Rockstar Games Launcher, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The station's host, Forth Right MC, is voiced by rapper and Public Enemy member Chuck D. Their song "Rebel Without a Pause" appears on the station. It also appears, along with "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim, on another Rockstar published game, Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy.
- The station also contains a song by Gang Starr, which consists of members DJ Premier, who hosted The Classics 104.1 in Grand Theft Auto IV, and the late rapper The Guru, who voiced 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
See Also[]
- N-CT FM - a hip-hop radio station in Grand Theft Auto.
- KREZ - a hip-hop radio station in Grand Theft Auto 2.
- Game Radio - an East Coast hip-hop radio station in Grand Theft Auto III.
- Wildstyle - a hip-hop and electro radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
- Radio Los Santos - a contemporary hip-hop radio station in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto V.
- The Liberty Jam - an East Coast hip-hop radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
- Fresh FM - a hip-hop and electro radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
- The Beat 102.7 - a contemporary hip-hop radio station Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City.
- The Classics 104.1 - a classic hip-hop radio station in GTA IV that plays other songs by Brand Nubian and Gang Starr and is hosted by DJ Premier of Gang Starr.
- Alchemist - a hip-hop instrumental radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.
- DJ Khalil - a hip-hop instrumental radio station in enhanced versions of GTA Chinatown Wars.
- West Coast Classics - a classic West Coast hip-hop radio station in GTA V.
- The Lab - a hip-hop and mixed genre radio station in enhanced versions of GTA V.
- iFruit Radio - a hip-hop radio station in enhanced version of GTA V.
- Kult FM - a post-punk and East Coast hip-hop radio station added to Grand Theft Auto Online as part of The Cayo Perico Heist update.