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:
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
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
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.
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 (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
- GTA San Andreas | CJ voice actor reveals real trauma of Big Smoke’s betrayal
- 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
- 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
- Exclusive: GTA San Andreas; CJ’s actor dispels myth about the character’s face
- 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
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