--- title: "Exclusive: Interview with Young Maylay, Carl Johnson’s (CJ) actor from GTA San Andreas" id: "182992" type: "post" slug: "exclusive-interview-with-young-maylay-carl-johnsons-cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas" published_at: "2026-04-08T23:47:39+00:00" modified_at: "2026-04-08T23:47:39+00:00" url: "https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-interview-with-young-maylay-carl-johnsons-cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas/" markdown_url: "https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-interview-with-young-maylay-carl-johnsons-cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas.md" excerpt: "Today I’m not just bringing you news, but the fulfillment of a dream I share with millions of you. I got to talk to the man, the legend, the voice that defined our childhoods and gaming culture: Young Maylay, the..." taxonomy_category: - "Entrevista Young Maylay" - "Entrevistas" - "Gaming News" - "gaming news" - "GTA San Andreas" - "Matérias especiais" - "Rockstar Games" - "Viciados Em GTA" taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_69d6e927b16e6" taxonomy_tmauthors: - "Elissan Cerqueira" --- Today I’m not just bringing you news, but the fulfillment of a dream I share with millions of you. I got to talk to the man, the legend, the voice that defined our childhoods and gaming culture: **Young Maylay**, the eternal **Carl Johnson** from **GTA San Andreas**. **You can check out my full interview with Young Maylay in the player below:** **Check it out on YouTube:**[CJ BROKE HIS SILENCE! Exclusive Interview with Young Maylay – 22 Years After GTA San Andreas!](https://youtu.be/4yQs9Ora4bo) It took years of searching, but finally "**CJ**" opened the doors to **Brazil**in a historic chat that revealed secrets no one had known for two decades. ## DJ Pooh’s “Ambush” with Young Maylay In 2021, **DJ Pooh** made a special appearance in **GTA Online**.One of the biggest revelations was how he landed the role. **Maylay**didn’t go to a typical audition. Legendary producer **DJ Pooh** called him and put him on speakerphone during a meeting with **Rockstar**—without warning! **Pooh**wanted the executives to hear the real **Maylay**, without the pressure of “*trying to be cool*.” It worked: 15 minutes later, he was hired. The authenticity we hear in the game was born from a routine phone call between friends. ## Young Maylay wasn’t acting **Young Maylay** interview with **SanInPlay**from **Portal Viciados**.**Maylay**was categorical: **San Andreas** was his first voice acting job, but he didn’t need acting lessons. **“My lifestyle isn’t too far off from that**,**”** he told me. Likewise, he brought real-life experience from the streets of **Los Angeles** to **CJ**, even correcting slang in the script to ensure the game sounded like the real “ghetto.” ## End of the myth about CJ’s face in GTA San Andreas I took the opportunity to put an end to the urban legend: no, **CJ**wasn’t modeled after **Young Maylay**’s face. When he arrived at **Rockstar Games**, the character in the white tank top was already finished. Another incredible tidbit: the **GTA** blood runs in the family. He’s the cousin of **Shawn Fonteno (Franklin from GTA 5)**! **Maylay**even joked that he was “pissed” because his cousin kept it a secret from him that he’d be the protagonist of the new game until launch. ## Brazil as a second home What moved me the most was seeing his respect for our community. I told him that here in **Brazil**even grandmothers know **CJ**, and he sent a special shout-out to them. He praised our “ingenuity” with mods and piracy, admitting that this immortalized his voice worldwide. O artigo continua após as sugestões[CJ actor from GTA San Andreas reveals beef with cousin Franklin from GTA 5](https://en.viciados.net/cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas-reveals-beef-with-cousin-franklin-from-gta-5/) [GTA San Andreas | CJ voice actor reveals real trauma of Big Smoke’s betrayal](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-cj-voice-actor-reveals-real-trauma-of-big-smokes-betrayal/) [GTA San Andreas | Young Maylay reveals that he lived through the real Los Angeles riots in 1992](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-young-maylay-reveals-that-he-lived-through-the-real-los-angeles-riots-in-1992/) Maylay confessed a real desire to me: **he wants to come to Brazil**. He wants to see our favelas up close, participate in events, and feel the warmth of Brazilian “fans.” He even reacted to our **[171](https://viciados.net/games/171/)** (the **Brazilian GTA**), congratulating the developers on their courage to represent the country authentically. Ultimately, **Young Maylay** knows that **CJ** has made him immortal. **“My voice will still be here on this earth**,**”** he said. **Check out all our articles dedicated to the interview below:** - [CJ actor from GTA San Andreas reveals beef with cousin Franklin from GTA 5](https://en.viciados.net/cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas-reveals-beef-with-cousin-franklin-from-gta-5/) - [GTA San Andreas | CJ voice actor reveals real trauma of Big Smoke’s betrayal](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-cj-voice-actor-reveals-real-trauma-of-big-smokes-betrayal/) - [GTA San Andreas | Young Maylay reveals that he lived through the real Los Angeles riots in 1992](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-young-maylay-reveals-that-he-lived-through-the-real-los-angeles-riots-in-1992/) - [Young Maylay at 171? CJ actor reacts to Brazilian GTA and reveals condition for participation](https://en.viciados.net/young-maylay-at-171-cj-actor-reacts-to-brazilian-gta-and-reveals-condition-for-participation/) - [GTA 6 | CJ actor Young Maylay comments on his opinion of Grand Theft Auto VI](https://en.viciados.net/gta-6-cj-actor-young-maylay-comments-on-his-opinion-of-grand-theft-auto-vi/) - [GTA San Andreas | Even Hillary Clinton couldn’t hold CJ! Young Maylay recalls the “Hot Coffee” controversy](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-even-hillary-clinton-couldnt-hold-cj-young-maylay-recalls-the-hot-coffee-controversy/) - [Exclusive: GTA San Andreas; CJ’s actor dispels myth about the character’s face](https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-gta-san-andreas-cjs-actor-dispels-myth-about-the-characters-face/) - [GTA San Andreas | Young Maylay reveals how he was called to Rockstar and became CJ](https://en.viciados.net/gta-san-andreas-young-maylay-reveals-how-he-was-called-to-rockstar-and-became-cj/) - [Exclusive: Interview with Young Maylay, Carl Johnson’s (CJ) actor from GTA San Andreas](https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-interview-with-young-maylay-carl-johnsons-cj-actor-from-gta-san-andreas/) **See also:**[Exclusive: Brazilian government puts up barriers to the registration of the GTA 6 (VI) trademark in Brazil](https://viciados.net/governo-brasileiro-barreiras-marca-gta-6-brasil/) Do you like **Portal Viciados**? We count on your support! To receive updates, [follow us on Google News](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAiEDJcDR_wUKWaDRZxc_uqj3kqFAgKIhAyXA0f8FClmg0WcXP7qo95?hl=pt-BR&gl=BR&ceid=BR%3Apt-419) , [Google Discover](https://profile.google.com/cp/Cg0vZy8xMXpqMGhicXFz) , **[WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb669E4Gk1FpsPLuPr2Y)**, and **[Telegram](https://t.me/viciadosnet)**. Join the discussion on **[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/portalviciados)**, [X (Twitter),](https://x.com/PortalViciados) and **[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/portalviciadosoficial/)**! [Previous article GTA 6 | Ex-Rockstar reveals new mechanics discarded from GTA 5 and Red Dead 2](https://en.viciados.net/gta-6-ex-rockstar-reveals-new-mechanics-discarded-from-gta-5-and-red-dead-2/) [Next article Starfield on PlayStation 5: Check out the comparison between PS5 Base and PS5 Pro](https://en.viciados.net/starfield-on-playstation-5-check-out-the-comparison-between-ps5-base-and-ps5-pro/) [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/portalviciados) [SIGA NO X](https://x.com/PortalViciados) [TELEGRAM](https://t.me/PortalViciadosOficial) [WHATSAPP](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb669E4Gk1FpsPLuPr2Y) ## Siga o Portal Viciados **No Google!** Follow the Viciados Portal **On Google!** Mantenha-se informado sobre todas as atualizações do Portal Viciados através do Google. Stay informed about all updates from Portal Viciados through Google. Ao acompanhar nosso portal no Google, você melhora suas chances de encontrar nossos artigos! By following our portal on Google, you improve your chances of finding our articles! [SEGUIR FOLLOW](https://profile.google.com/cp/Cg0vZy8xMXpqMGhicXFz?pf=0) #### CHECK MORE [https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-rockstar-games-has-just-uploaded-gta-6-files-to-its-servers-see-our-investigation/](https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-rockstar-games-has-just-uploaded-gta-6-files-to-its-servers-see-our-investigation/) [Exclusive: Rockstar Games has just uploaded GTA 6 files to its servers; see our investigation](https://en.viciados.net/exclusive-rockstar-games-has-just-uploaded-gta-6-files-to-its-servers-see-our-investigation/) 11 de May de 2026 às 23:30 [https://en.viciados.net/for-gta-6-vacancies-suggest-dlcs-and-season-passes-in-rockstar-games-future/](https://en.viciados.net/for-gta-6-vacancies-suggest-dlcs-and-season-passes-in-rockstar-games-future/) [For GTA 6? Vacancies suggest DLCs and Season Passes in Rockstar Games’ future](https://en.viciados.net/for-gta-6-vacancies-suggest-dlcs-and-season-passes-in-rockstar-games-future/) 11 de May de 2026 às 18:47 [https://en.viciados.net/gta-6-without-postponements-new-rockstar-position-focuses-on-tv-and-movie-trailers/](https://en.viciados.net/gta-6-without-postponements-new-rockstar-position-focuses-on-tv-and-movie-trailers/) [GTA 6 without postponements? New Rockstar position focuses on TV and movie trailers](https://en.viciados.net/gta-6-without-postponements-new-rockstar-position-focuses-on-tv-and-movie-trailers/) 7 de May de 2026 às 12:14 [https://en.viciados.net/rumor-is-the-crunch-back-rockstar-employees-report-nightmare-in-gta-6/](https://en.viciados.net/rumor-is-the-crunch-back-rockstar-employees-report-nightmare-in-gta-6/) [Rumor: Is the crunch back? Rockstar employees report nightmare in GTA 6!](https://en.viciados.net/rumor-is-the-crunch-back-rockstar-employees-report-nightmare-in-gta-6/) 3 de May de 2026 às 20:37