You’re driving through South Los Santos. The sun is setting, the radio is blasting FlyLo FM, and you decide to hop out of your Zentorno to stir up some trouble. You bump into a random guy on the sidewalk. Instead of the usual scripted NPC insult, he looks at you and asks: "Aye, you like potato salad? 'Cause I like potato salad."
Wait. Did Tyler, The Creator just ask me about lunch?
Yes. Actually. It sounds like a myth or a weird "Mandela Effect" thing, but it’s 100% real. Tyler, The Creator is in GTA 5, and he’s been there since day one. Most players have spent over a decade driving past him without realizing they were brushing shoulders with a Grammy winner.
The Secret Life of the Potato Salad Man
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how well Rockstar hid this. Back in 2013, right when the game dropped, Tyler actually tweeted out: "IF YOU HAVE GTA V IM THE VOICE OF RANDOM PEOPLE SO YEAH." But the internet has a short memory. People forgot. It took years for fans to start clipping the audio and realizing that the voice of the "Families" gang members sounded exactly like the mastermind behind Igor.
He isn't playing himself. You won't find a character named "Tyler" on the map. Instead, he’s the voice behind several "Ambient Peds"—the industry term for the random people walking around the world.
He’s mostly found in the Chamberlain Hills area. You’ll hear him talking about his family, getting annoyed with his friends, or, in that now-famous clip, rambling about potato salad. There’s even a bit of dialogue where his character mentions making a song to "get out of the hood," which is a neat little meta-reference to his real-life career.
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Not Just a Random Voice
If you want to find him, look for the guys in green. Since Tyler voices members of the Families gang (Franklin’s gang), they usually hang out in the South Los Santos projects. But be careful. If you antagonize them, Tyler’s character will absolutely start swinging or pull a weapon. There is something deeply surreal about getting into a fistfight with a digital version of Tyler while his music plays in the background.
The Exclusive Track: "Garbage"
The cameo goes deeper than just a few voice lines. Rockstar actually commissioned Tyler to write an original song specifically for the game's soundtrack.
The track is called "Garbage." It lives on FlyLo FM, the experimental electronic station hosted by Flying Lotus. If you listen to the intro of the song in-game, Tyler actually introduces it himself. He breaks character, drops the "Young N***a" persona he used for some Odd Future sketches, and says: "Hello, I’m a salesman, sorta giant... you're listening to FlyLo FM."
The song is dark. It’s basically about a drug dealer who turns into a serial killer, fitting the grim, satirical vibe of Los Santos perfectly.
Why "Garbage" Matters
- Exclusivity: It wasn't on an album first; it was made for the Music of Grand Theft Auto V collection.
- The Vibe: It captures that early 2010s Odd Future energy—gritty, DIY, and slightly disturbing.
- The Connection: Flying Lotus and Tyler are real-life friends, so the collaboration felt organic rather than a corporate marketing play.
The Odd Future Connection
Tyler isn't the only one from his circle in the game. Rockstar has a long history of working with "cool" artists rather than just the biggest ones.
Danny Brown is also in the game—he's a lifeguard at Pleasure Pier. If you go to the beach and mess with the lifeguards, you might get a face full of Danny Brown’s left hook. It’s these small, uncredited details that make the world of San Andreas feel lived-in.
In more recent years, with the massive updates to GTA Online, the music scene has exploded. We've seen Dr. Dre get his own multi-mission storyline, and artists like Rosalia and Arca getting their own stations. But Tyler was one of the first "new school" rappers to be baked into the very DNA of the game's atmosphere.
How to Experience Tyler in GTA 5 Right Now
If you want to see/hear this for yourself, you don't need mods. You just need some patience.
- Head to Chamberlain Hills: Walk around the cul-de-sacs and the areas near Franklin’s first house.
- Interact with the Peds: Stand near the guys in green shirts or jerseys. Don't press the "attack" button—just stand there. They will eventually start talking.
- Listen for the Raspy Tone: Tyler’s voice is unmistakable. Once you hear that deep, gravelly delivery, you’ll know it’s him.
- Tune to FlyLo FM: If you’re driving, just keep the dial on Flying Lotus’s station. "Garbage" is still in the rotation.
The Legacy of the Cameo
What makes Tyler, The Creator in GTA 5 so special is that it wasn't a "stunt." Most celebrity cameos in games today are loud and flashy. They want you to know the celebrity is there so you'll buy the DLC.
Tyler just wanted to be a random guy on the street. It’s a testament to how much he loves the culture of the game. It’s also a reminder that even in a game as massive and chaotic as GTA, there are still tiny, human details hidden in plain sight.
Actionable Next Steps:
Next time you're in Los Santos, go to the Chamberlain Hills area without a weapon equipped. Spend ten minutes just listening to the NPC conversations. You’ll be surprised at how much unique dialogue exists that isn't just Tyler—but finding him is the ultimate easter egg hunt for any hip-hop fan. While you're at it, check the iFruit Radio station in GTA Online; while Tyler doesn't host it, the DNA of his influence is all over the curated tracks.