Killer Mike of Run The Jewels and electronic musician MNDR have teamed up to record a song called, “Lock & Load”. This new track is the hypnotic second single from the upcoming Rockstar Games compilation album, The Alchemist and Oh No Presents: Welcome to Los Santos, which features a collection of new songs that were inspired by the original score of the 2013 videogame, Grand Theft Auto V. The album is out on April 21st, 2015, via Mass Appeal Records.
“Lock & Load” is an atmospheric and ethereal track with a dark side that comes through on a particularly dramatic chorus of “lock and load, fire.” MNDR has crafted a sonic soundscape that swells with synths and breathy vocals. Additionally, the track plays to Killer Mike’s strengths of composing and bringing to life hard-hitting wakeup calls. He delivers a confrontational set of lyrics about how “shit’s fucked up” and he “cannot be stifled.” Set against an electronic backdrop, these lyrics take on an eerie quality that fits in perfectly with the premise of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Although, “Lock & Load” appears on Welcome to Los Santos, it was originally slated to be in the Grand Theft Auto V score, but did not make the final cut, according to album producer Alchemist’s comments that appeared in Rolling Stone.
“The track was originally part of the score, but always felt like it could hold its own as a record for someone to either rap or sing on,” Alchemist told Rolling Stone. “It had the feel of the game but still had hard drums and a tempo that could cater well to a verse/song. Since it also had a strong lead guitar, we felt that it would be cool if we could put together an MC and a rock band together on the record. We threw names around. MNDR and Killer Mike seemed like it would be a good fit. They killed it.”
Listen to “Lock & Load”, below.
In addition to featuring the production and composition talents of The Alchemist and Oh No, who have given their names to the album, Welcome to Los Santos includes tracks composed by Woody Jackson and Tangerine Dream. Their partnerships have produced an album of material that is ambitious. And, Welcome to Los Santos crosses genres with a wide range of performers appearing on album, including Earl Sweatshirt, Little Dragon, Phantogram, Freddie Gibbs, Popcaan, Tunde Adebimpe and Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands. Check out the entire tracklisting, below.
The Alchemist and Oh No Present: Welcome To Los Santos Tracklisting:
01. Gangrene – Play It Cool feat. Samuel T. Herring (of Future Islands) & Earl Sweatshirt
02. Ab-Soul – Trouble feat. Aloe Blacc
03. Tunde Adebimpe – Speedline Miracle Masterpiece feat. Sal P & Sinkane
04. MC Eiht & Freddie Gibbs – Welcome to Los Santos feat. Kokane
05. Phantogram – K.Y.S.A
06. Vybz Kartel – Fast Life
07. King Avriel – 20’s 50’s 100’s feat. A$AP Ferg
08. MNDR – Lock & Load feat. Killer Mike
09. Popcaan – Born Bad feat. Freddie Gibbs
10. E-40 – California feat. Dam-Funk & Ariel Pink
11. Wavves – Leave
12. Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs – Fetti
13. Little Dragon – Wanderer
14. Action Bronson & Danny Brown – Bad News
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