So, you’re scrolling through a Tyler, the Creator discography or maybe just cruising through Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V and you hear this gritty, unsettling beat. It’s "Garbage." It isn’t your typical "See You Again" or "EARFQUAKE" vibe. Honestly, it’s a relic from a version of Tyler that felt a lot more dangerous and a lot less refined.
In 2013, Rockstar Games basically gave Tyler a blank check to be as weird as possible. The result was a track that didn't appear on Wolf or any of his studio albums. It was a digital exclusive for the FlyLo FM radio station in the game. If you've ever wondered why it sounds like a basement recording from a horror movie, there’s actually a specific reason for that.
The Story Behind Tyler the Creator Garbage
Tyler has gone on record (well, on Twitter, which is basically the same thing for him) saying he was just "being creative one night." He wanted to emulate that old, "trashcan" sounding production style. Think early 2000s Neptunes or the grit of The Clipse’s Lord Willin'. He literally tweeted that he wanted it to sound like "drug dealing old famlay clipse trashcan sounding shit."
Mission accomplished.
The song is built on these haunting, minimal synths and a drum pattern that feels like it’s hitting a literal metal bin. It’s cold. It’s calculated. It’s a far cry from the lush, orchestral arrangements he’d eventually master on IGOR or CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.
A Narrative of a "Salesman"
"Garbage" tells a story from the perspective of a drug dealer who slowly loses his mind and turns into a serial killer. Yeah, it’s dark. Tyler starts the track introducing himself as a "salesman" selling "molly and mary." But the tone shifts fast.
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The lyrics follow a guy who starts liking the violence a bit too much. By the second verse, he’s talking about "ripping sockets out" and hiding bodies under the floorboards. It’s a return to the "Bastard" and "Goblin" era storytelling, where Tyler played these exaggerated, villainous characters to shock the listener. In the context of GTA V, a game where you spend half your time running from the cops after a heist, it fits perfectly.
Why This Track Still Matters in 2026
Even now, "Garbage" stands out because it represents a bridge. At the time, Tyler was finishing up "48" (from the album Wolf), which was a much more empathetic look at the drug trade. "Garbage" is the evil twin of that song. It’s the raw, unfiltered version of his imagination before he started caring about Grammys or fashion week in Paris.
Many fans forget that this wasn't just a random upload. It was part of a massive cultural moment. When The Music of Grand Theft Auto V released, Tyler was positioned alongside legends like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. For a 22-year-old kid who started by making beats in his bedroom, being the "exclusive" voice for FlyLo FM was a massive flex.
- Release Date: September 24, 2013 (Studio version)
- Producer: Tyler, the Creator
- Label: Rockstar Games
- Radio Station: FlyLo FM (Hosted by Flying Lotus)
Does it Actually Sound Like "Garbage"?
The title is a double entendre. It refers to the "trashy" production style Tyler was chasing, but it also reflects the moral "garbage" of the protagonist.
If you're a new fan who joined during the Flower Boy era, this track might be a tough listen. It’s abrasive. It’s purposely unpolished. But if you want to understand the DNA of Odd Future, you have to listen to this. You can hear the beginnings of his obsession with weird synth textures and character-driven narratives that he’d eventually perfect years later.
How to Find the Song Today
You won't find it on Tyler’s main Spotify profile under "Albums." You have to look for the The Music of Grand Theft Auto V, Vol. 1: Original Music compilation. It’s tucked away as track 10.
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Interestingly, while some people confuse it with the band Garbage (the 90s alt-rock legends), this track has absolutely nothing to do with Shirley Manson. It's 100% Tyler Okonma in his most chaotic state.
If you want to dive deeper into this era of his music, there are a few things you should do next. First, compare the production of "Garbage" to "Tamale" or "Pigs" from the same year. You’ll notice how he was experimenting with high-pitched, almost "annoying" sounds to see how much the listener could take. Second, go watch the GTA V trailer again—it's wild how much that game's aesthetic influenced the mid-2010s hip-hop scene.
The next time you're driving through the Los Santos hills at night, switch the radio to FlyLo FM. Let the weirdness of "Garbage" sink in. It’s a reminder that even when he’s just "being creative one night," Tyler usually ends up making something that people are still talking about a decade later.