Wide ranging album of material inspired by The Alchemist and Oh No's contributions to the Grand Theft Auto V score. The two producers reached beyond hip hop to work with a variety artists for Welcome To Los Santos. They took pieces of the score for the game and produce tracks around those samples. Their productions are inherently cinematic, some of the most expansive tracks that both The Alchemist and Oh No have in their respective catalogs. The guest appearances come from all over the map and they make for some interesting pairings. Earl Sweatshirt and Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands, MC Eiht and Kokane, King Avriel and A$AP Ferg, MNDR and Killer Mike, E-40 along with Dam-Funk and Ariel Pink, and the always winning combination of Action Bronson and Danny Brown. It's hard to go wrong when your set is that deep. That being said, Welcome To Los Santos seems to succeed best when The Alchemist and Oh No are producing beats for the hip hop heads. The more minimal sounds they choose pair well with the MCs they're working with. However, for all the hip hop, there is plenty of variety throughout the album. And that may be what keeps you tuning into this station.

• colored double vinyl pressing
• sticker sheet
• music label: Mass Appeal 2015

reviewed by Kool Moby 07/2015