Midnight Club: Dub Edition Had One of the Best Video Game Soundtracks Ever

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- So, I was scrolling through Facebook this weekend and saw a post featuring four classic PlayStation 2 games. The question was simple: Which one are you playing first? One of the options was GTA: Vice City, and another was Midnight Club 3 : Dub Edition—and man, that took me way back.

Rockstar San Diego dropped Dub Edition in April 2005. It’s still one of the greatest street racing games of all time. I know some people ride hard for Need for Speed or even Test Drive—and that’s cool—but no matter where your loyalty lies, you can’t deny this: Dub Edition had one of the hardest soundtracks in video game history.

I’m talking straight-up bangers in almost every genre. I’d be flying through Atlanta in a decked-out Porsche blasting “ASAP” by T.I., then switch it up—cruising through San Diego on a motorcycle while “Little Sister” by Queens of the Stone Age played in the background. Or I’d pull up in a Chrysler in Detroit, vibing to “Hi Tech Jazz” by Underground Resistance.

We even heard from a young Pitbull, Mr.305 HIMSELF in the soundtrack.

And the reggae tracks? Unmatched. From “King of the Dancehall” by Beenie Man to “Strip Tease” by Lady Saw—it was heat. My aunt, a huge dancehall fan, would literally start dancing every time a reggae track came on. Oooh... what I’d give to be winding on a beach in Jamaica right now.

Okay—let me get back on track.

I’ve got some vivid memories tied to that game. I’d be wrapped up in a blanket at my grandma’s house, posted up on her couch for hours. I remember once playing under my cousin’s profile—dude had racks from winning races—and I blew almost all his money on a matte black Monte Carlo with gold rims and hydraulics. He was heated. But now? We laugh about it every time it comes up—almost 20 years later.

And back to the music, because yeah, it really was that good. You know a game’s soundtrack is next level when even the garage music and loading screen music hits. I still get a kick out of tracks from Ratt Pakk, especially “Cornbread” and “Spaced Out.” As soon as “Spaced Out” comes on, I can’t help but smile—the nostalgia is real.

Random side note: If you played the PSP version, you might’ve noticed some songs—like “Sittin’ Sideways” by Paul Wall—weren’t on there, even though they were in the PS2 version. No idea what Rockstar was thinking, but that was a weird move. That track was everywhere at the time.

It’s wild because 2005 had so many massive hits that didn’t make it into the game. You had “Grillz” by Nelly, “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani, “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent, and “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls.

Even though R&B was dominating the charts that year—Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” was the number one song of 2005—there wasn’t a strong R&B presence in Dub Edition. No Ciara, no Alicia Keys, no Destiny’s Child. Maybe Rockstar was considering those tracks and just couldn’t secure the rights, or maybe the licensing fees were too high. They did sneak in Rick James on Bump J’s “On The Run,” though, which was a nice surprise.

I’m not as deep into gaming these days, but I seriously hope modern racing games are still bringing soundtracks with that same kind of energy. Because Midnight Club: Dub Edition? That wasn’t just a game—it was a whole moment. The soundtrack aged well.