By Chris Richburg and Nolan Strong
Grand Theft Auto players will have a new soundtrack to make moves to, as the latest installment of the popular video game series will include a radio show featuring mixtape DJ Green Lantern.
The show is among the surprises found on the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto IV, which is set in "Liberty City," a fictional town that boasts a design based on New York and northern New Jersey.
According to Green Lantern, gamers can access the show when they steal a car and turn on the radio.
Unlike the game’s other stations that use licensed music, Green Lantern’s station will showcase original songs that he produced, specifically for Grand Theft Auto 4.
"There are many other stations in the game but they all consist of licensed music," Green Lantern told AllHiphop.com. "This is the first [time] they've had a fully budgeted show in the game. This is obviously a graduation for me as a DJ coming from making mixtapes, to radio, to producing original music for the biggest video game out," Green Lantern told AllHipHop.com.
GTA IV, which is produced by Rockstar Games, is the follow up to the popular Grand Theft Auto III, which was released in 2001.
The controversial game went on to become the best selling video game of that year, despite objections over violent and sexual content.
Last year New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticized the creators of the violent GTA series for using New York and New Jersey as a back drop for the game.
"It's despicable to glamorize violence in games like these, regardless of how far-fetched the setting may be," Kelly told reporters last year, while Bloomberg refused to "support any video game where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers."
As of September 2007, the Grand Theft Auto franchise has sold over 12 million units. DJ Green Lantern was honored to be a part of the game, despite the criticism.
"I am honored that Rockstar Games has given me the opportunity to step into the world of music supervision and I'd like to thank all those who've supported me and continue to ride with me. Go buy, the game, steal a car and listen to me while you tear s**t up."
Grand Theft Auto IV is due in stores on April 29.