If you close your eyes and think of the phrase "Ah shit, here we go again," you don't just see the meme. You hear the voice. It's a specific, gravelly, world-weary tone that defined an entire generation of gaming. That voice belongs to Christopher Bellard, better known to the world as Young Maylay.
For years, the man behind the GTA San Andreas CJ voice was a bit of a ghost. He wasn't doing the Hollywood rounds or popping up in every major triple-A title. Instead, there was a lot of silence, followed by some very loud, very public anger.
Honestly, the story of how a rapper from LA became the face of the biggest game of 2004—and why he eventually ended up despising the company that made him famous—is more dramatic than a five-star pursuit in Los Santos.
The Speakerphone Audition That Changed Everything
Most people think Rockstar Games spent months scouting for the perfect Carl Johnson. They didn't. It was basically a happy accident involving a speakerphone and a legend in the West Coast music scene.
Back in the early 2000s, Young Maylay was working as a rapper and producer. He was in New York, hanging out and working on music, when he got a call from DJ Pooh. At the time, Pooh was already a big deal—the man co-wrote Friday and was a massive consultant for Rockstar.
Pooh was actually in a meeting with Rockstar staff when he called Maylay. He put the phone on speaker, and they just... talked. About music, about life, about nothing in particular. The Rockstar developers were listening in the background. They loved the natural rhythm of his voice. They told Pooh right then and there: "Get this guy in for an audition."
Maylay didn't even know he was being scouted. He just thought he was talking to a friend. A few weeks later, he officially auditioned, and the rest is history. He wasn't a professional voice actor. He was just a guy from the culture Rockstar wanted to capture.
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Why the Beef With Rockstar Got So Ugly
You've probably noticed that CJ hasn't made a cameo in the "HD Universe" of GTA. No mentions in GTA IV, no sightings in GTA V—aside from a few Easter eggs. This isn't just because the games are in different "universes." It's because Young Maylay and Rockstar Games had a massive falling out.
It mostly came down to two things: money and respect.
- The Paycheck: Like many actors in that era, Maylay was paid a flat fee. He didn't get royalties. When San Andreas went on to sell nearly 30 million copies and make billions of dollars, Maylay felt exploited. He famously told fans he "made money" from them but wouldn't work with them again unless he got "a few million to the pocket."
- The "Culture Vulture" Accusation: This is where it gets personal. Maylay has publicly called Rockstar "culture vultures." His argument is pretty straightforward: he feels the company—led by British executives—made a fortune off Black LA culture while the people who actually lived it didn't see a fair share of that wealth.
For a long time, if you tagged Maylay in a post about a GTA 6 cameo, he’d go off. In 2020, he posted a screenshot on Instagram flat-out saying, "F*** Rockstar Games period... CJ will have to be voiced by another MF but not me."
It was a bridge burned with high-octane gasoline.
The Turning Point: Shawn Fonteno and the Family Connection
Here is a fact that still blows people's minds: The voice of CJ and the voice of Franklin Clinton from GTA V are actual, real-life cousins.
Shawn "Solo" Fonteno (Franklin) has a great relationship with Rockstar. He’s basically the company’s unofficial ambassador. For years, there was this weird tension where fans wanted to see the two protagonists together, but Maylay wanted nothing to do with the brand.
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Things started to shift around 2021. Fonteno reached out to Maylay to help him "make peace" with the fans, if not the company. During a streamed conversation, Maylay revealed that Rockstar had actually discouraged him from going to fan conventions years ago. Fonteno told him that was "old news" and helped him get back into the circuit.
Since then, the vibe has changed. If you look at Maylay in 2025 and 2026, he’s a different man. He’s been appearing at Nostalgia Con and other gaming events alongside the GTA V cast. He even showed up on a Kai Cenat livestream in 2024 and dropped the "Ah shit, here we go again" line for the fans.
He still doesn't like Rockstar. That hasn't changed. But he’s finally embraced the love from the players.
What happened to CJ's voice in the Definitive Edition?
When the GTA Trilogy: The Definitive Edition launched, there was a lot of talk about the audio. Because of the bad blood, people wondered if Maylay's voice had been replaced.
It wasn't. Rockstar still owns the rights to those original recordings. However, the "remastered" audio was a mess. They used AI-upscaling tools that made some of the dialogue sound tinny or robotic. It was a technical failure, not a casting change.
CJ's Voice in GTA 6: Is There a Chance?
We’re heading into the release window for Grand Theft Auto VI, and the rumors are flying. Could CJ appear in Leonida (Florida)?
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Short answer: No.
Long answer: Still no, but with a "maybe" on the character, just not the actor. Young Maylay has been extremely clear that he is not involved. If Rockstar decided to bring back an older Carl Johnson as a legacy character, they would have to hire a "sound-alike" actor.
But honestly? Rockstar rarely does that. They know the fans would spot a fake CJ in two seconds. It’s more likely that CJ remains a legend of the 1990s, existing only in our memories and the occasional graffiti Easter egg.
Moving Beyond the Grove
Christopher Bellard isn't just "the GTA guy." He’s spent the last two decades building his own path.
- Music: He released The Real Coast Guard and worked heavily with WC and Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records.
- Fitness: If you see him at conventions now, he’s noticeably "buff CJ." He’s focused heavily on health and looks nothing like the slim rapper from 2004.
- Independence: He runs his own label, Maylaynium Muziq, funded by his original GTA earnings.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan of the series or interested in the "behind the scenes" of voice acting, there are a few things you can do to support the talent rather than the corporation.
- Follow the Artist, Not the Avatar: If you love CJ, follow @youngmaylay on social media. He shares his new music and convention appearances there. Don't just post "follow the train" memes; actually support his current work.
- Understand the "Universe" Split: Remember that Rockstar separates the "3D Universe" (III, Vice City, San Andreas) from the "HD Universe" (IV, V, VI). Characters rarely cross over. This is why we probably won't see CJ in modern games, regardless of the voice actor drama.
- Check Out "Nostalgia Con" Footage: If you want to see the "reunion" of the GTA protagonists, look up the 2025 panel videos. It's the first time Maylay, Shawn Fonteno, Ned Luke (Michael), and Steven Ogg (Trevor) all sat on a stage together.
The story of the GTA San Andreas CJ voice is a reminder that behind every legendary video game character is a real person with a real life. Christopher Bellard gave CJ his soul, and even if he never records another line for Rockstar, his place in gaming history is untouchable.