Only Raw Records

Overview

Only Raw Records is a hip-hop record label operating in Vice City in Grand Theft Auto VI. The label is co-owned by Boobie Ike, a nightlife mogul who runs the Jack of Hearts strip club, and Dre'Quan Priest, a former street hustler with deep connections to Leonida's rap scene. Only Raw Records represents a central storyline element in GTA VI, tying together the game's music industry subplot with its criminal underworld.

Founders

Boobie Ike

Boobie Ike is a Vice City nightlife entrepreneur and the owner of the Jack of Hearts, one of the city's prominent strip clubs. He is investing in Only Raw Records as a way to expand his entertainment empire beyond nightlife venues. Boobie Ike appears in both Trailer 1 and Trailer 2 and is part of the core cast of characters that intersect with Jason and Lucia's criminal journey. His dual role as a club owner and record label investor positions him at the intersection of Vice City's legal entertainment industry and its underground economy.

Dre'Quan Priest

Dre'Quan Priest is a former street hustler who manages the day-to-day operations of Only Raw Records. His background in the streets gives him credibility in the hip-hop community, while his business relationship with Boobie Ike provides the financial backing needed to sign and promote artists. Dre'Quan is linked to Leonida's broader rap scene and serves as the creative driving force behind the label's roster.

Label Roster

Real Dimez

Real Dimez is a Vice City hip-hop duo consisting of two members, Bae-Luxe and Roxy. The two have been friends since high school and create what is described as "spicy rap tracks" with a strong social media presence. An early hit single with DWNPLY brought them wider recognition, and after five years of building their following, they signed to Only Raw Records. Real Dimez are described as being on the verge of their big break, suggesting their story arc involves the pursuit of mainstream success through Boobie Ike and Dre'Quan's label.

DWNPLY

DWNPLY is a local Vice City rapper who is also signed to Only Raw Records. He collaborated with Real Dimez on their breakthrough single. Details about DWNPLY's background and personality are limited, but his presence on the roster confirms that Only Raw Records has multiple artists beyond the Real Dimez duo.

Music Production

GTA VI features an in-game recording studio and digital audio workstation (DAW) that has drawn significant attention from the music community. The DAW interface visible in gameplay footage has been compared to FL Studio, the popular music production software used widely in hip-hop production. Reports indicate that FL Studio's interface has been recreated or referenced within the game, allowing players to potentially interact with music production as a gameplay mechanic. This represents a new frontier for the franchise, which has previously focused on music consumption through radio stations rather than music creation.

Connection to the Story

Only Raw Records is positioned as a central subplot within GTA VI's narrative. The record label connects several of the game's confirmed characters through business relationships, artistic partnerships, and the broader Vice City entertainment economy. Boobie Ike's involvement links the label to the nightlife and strip club scene, while Dre'Quan's street connections tie it to the criminal underworld. The gangs and factions of Vice City likely have overlapping interests with the label, as hip-hop and street culture are deeply intertwined in the game's depiction of modern Florida.

The label's focus on up-and-coming artists trying to make it in Vice City parallels the protagonists' own ambitions. Jason and Lucia's criminal partnership is driven by the pursuit of money and freedom, and the artists on Only Raw Records are similarly chasing success in a city where legitimate and illegitimate paths to wealth are often blurred.

GTA's Music Legacy

The Grand Theft Auto series has a rich history of music integration. GTA: Vice City (2002) is widely credited with popularizing licensed music in video games through its iconic 1980s soundtrack. GTA: San Andreas introduced custom radio stations. GTA V featured an original score alongside curated radio stations and later added Dr. Dre's exclusive music to GTA Online. GTA VI's introduction of an in-game record label and music production tools represents the next evolution of this legacy, moving from passive music listening to active engagement with the music industry as a narrative and gameplay element.

Known Details