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| “ | After five years on the east coast, it is time to go home... | „ |
| ~ CJ's first line in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| “ | Ah shit, here we go again. | „ |
| ~ Carl's most famous quote after being thrown out of the police car by Officer Tenpenny, which has since become a meme. |
Carl Johnson, better known as CJ, is the main protagonist of the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the seventh installment of the Grand Theft Auto video game series.
He is the second-in-command of the Grove Street Families, ascending to the position after his return from Liberty City. Trying to get off Tenpenny's back after being blackmailed by him, CJ helps his brother Sweet Johnson orchestrate the rise of the Grove Street Families, until he got betrayed by some close associates.
He was voiced by the rapper Young Maylay who is the cousin of Franklin's voice actor Shawn Fonteno.
Personality[]
Carl Johnson is a pragmatic, compassionate, honorable and quite charismatic gang leader (though his charisma can be enhanced throughout the game). Due to his charisma, Carl can come across as being misogynistic towards women out of frustration. He can be extremely violently aggressive and destructive when necessary. He manages his problems in a boss-like fashion, which often involves brutal shootings. That being said, most of his victims also tried to murder CJ as well. He has no problems hunting down or wiping out anyone that gets in his way - especially Ballas or cops, or committing petty crimes such as robbing houses and various places. The only characters he genuinely fears are those in a position of authority such as Frank Tenpenny, Eddie Pulaski or utter psychopaths such as Catalina and T-Bone Mendez.
On the other hand, unlike his two predecessors (who were hardened criminals with no remorse), Carl Johnson displays much more decency and empathy. He is overprotective of his gang, Grove Street Families and his brother Sweet. He also displayed regrets immediately after defeating Big Smoke, despite the fact that Big Smoke coldly betrayed him and left him for dead somewhere in the countryside.
Some even question his intelligence, though Carl Johnson proved many times to be a skilled manager and strategist. Carl even uses manipulation and deception in order to gain what he wants, an example is when he successfully tricked Millie into giving him the access key necessary to organize the raid of the Caligula.
Unlike Ryder and Big Smoke, Carl Johnson is not interested in drugs and actually despises them. This is shown multiple times throughout the game, such as when he beat a crackhead attempting to give Sweet some PCP. Despite this, however, CJ seems to get along pretty well with the Truth, who is a drug-addict and dealer. He also holds a grudge against the C.R.A.S.H. - especially Tenpenny - and the cops in general, often nicknaming them "bribe-taking assholes" or "bitches".
Overall, CJ is a violent, destructive and ruthless Yet compassionate, protective, professional and honorable gang leader.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Carl Johnson was born in the crime ridden Los Santos suburb of Ganton. He had three siblings, his older brother Sweet and younger siblings Kendl and Brian. At some point, his father left the family, though Carl claims to have never seen or met him growing up. At some point Sweet, CJ and befriended Ryder and Big Smoke and joined the gang known as the Grove Street Families, it is heavily implied Brian became affiliated with them as well. In 1987, Brian was killed in implied gang violence, Carl was blamed for his death as dialogue implies he did not attempt to save his ten year old brother in the event. After that, Carl moved to Liberty City, doing petty crimes with Joey Leone for the next five years until 1992, when his mother Beverly was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Return to Los Santos[]
| “ | Grove Street. Home. At least it was before I f**ked everything up. | „ |
| ~ Carl soon after arriving in San Andreas. |
After arriving in Los Santos, Carl was arrested by C.R.A.S.H. police force members, led by Officer Tenpenny, and was framed for the murder of officer Ralph Pendlebury. He returned to Grove Street and began to work for the Grove Street Families again, slowly regaining respect from his resentful brother and his other friends.
At one point, a concerned Sweet asks Carl to follow Kendl and find her love interest, who turns out to be Cesar Vialpando, a leader of the Varrios Los Aztecas. Although initially hostile, the two men eventually befriend each other, and would later work in their common interests against the narcotic infestation spawned by the Ballas and Vagos.
Betrayed by Big Smoke and Ryder and move to San Fierro[]
While on a mission to weaken the Ballas, Carl is contacted by Cesar to meet him at an area not far from a Ballas drug hideout in order to give more information on the drive-by shooting. During the meetup, they spy on the hideout and CJ is horrified upon seeing Big Smoke and Ryder along with Frank Tenpenny, the leader of C.R.A.S.H, as well as Ballas gangsters. Cesar reveals that C.R.A.S.H. ordered the drive-by with the intent of killing Sweet, and have been working with the Ballas, Big Smoke, and Ryder to wipe out the Families and profit off the drug trade.
Suspecting that Sweet is heading to a trap, Carl tells Cesar to help Kendl flee. He then helped the injured Sweet fight off the Ballas Gangsters. Soon, LSPD reinforcements arrive, and Sweet was arrested, while Carl was taken to Angel Pine by C.R.A.S.H.
During his time in the wilderness, Tenpenny had CJ to continue working for them, first by taking out a witness protected by the FBI. Smoke, Ryder and the Ballas unleashes a wave of drugs onto the city. He befriends an aging hippie with a marijuana farm named the Truth and works with him for a while. In a rural race, he wins the respect of triad leader Wu Zi Mu. He also forms a partnership with Cesar's deranged cousin Catalina and robs "soft targets" with her until she decides to ditch him for Claude. Carl wins a run-down San Fierro garage from Claude in another badlands race. When Tenpenny betrays The Truth and sends his henchmen on his weed farm, Carl helps The Truth to destroy all the crops and the pursing police helicopter before heading to San Fierro. He recruits helpers from The Truth to use the garage as a front for his machinations.
Carl begins working for Woozie in return for their assistance on the matter, and along with Cesar they identified members of the Loco Syndicate - Jizzy B., Ryder, Mike Toreno and T-Bone Mendez. Infiltrating the organization, Carl eventually kills all four, though he is somewhat remorseful of Ryder's death.
Mike Toreno, who reveals his survival via a decoy, turns out to be a federal agent and demands Carl to work for him in exchange to secure Sweet's release. To this end Carl took on perilous missions for him, purchased an aircraft graveyard and trained himself in aviation.
Later, Carl ventures to Las Venturas where he continues to run errands for Woozie and the Four Dragons Casino. He also assists in planning their heist on the Caliguila Casino jointly ran by three mafia families - the Leones, Sindaccos and Forellis. Using his previous connection with Joey Leone and distrust between the three syndicates, Carl gains the favor of don Salvatore Leone. He kills a hit squad targeting Salvatore, and later devastates the Forellis back at Liberty City while also helping Paul, Maccer and Ken Rosenberg to escape Salvatore's clutches.
Eventually, the triads and Carl perform a daring heist on the casino. After also saving disgraced Rapper Madd Dogg, whose career he helped to ruin, Carl agrees to become his manager.
Final showdown[]
| “ | See you around. Officer. | „ |
| ~ CJ taunts the now-dead Tenpenny. |
After Carl returned to Los Santos, he helped Madd Dogg reclaim a mansion from the Vagos, then took on a final job for Toreno to steal a fighter jet and eliminate espionage ships, who in exchange had Sweet released from prison. Unable to convince his brother of his expansions around San Fierro and Las Venturas, he agrees to aid Sweet instead. He also helps Madd Dogg in reclaiming his career from OG Loc. When Tenpenny was announced innocent, riots began all over San Andreas. Carl then takes control over most of the streets of Los Santos with Sweet and helps Cesar as well. Eventually, they learn of Smoke's address and decide to exact their revenge. After telling Sweet to remain on the vehicle, Carl fights through Smoke's minions and eventually kills him.
Right after Smoke's death, Tenpenny appeared and reveals his malicious intentions, threatening Carl to hand him Smoke's drug money. Carl survives Tenpenny's attempt on his life by faking Sweet's presence, and subsequently escapes the burning crack den. Sweet hangs onto Tenpenny's fire truck as the latter attempts to flee Los Santos, forcing Carl to give pursuit. Retrieving his brother, Carl rides shotgun and kills hostile reinforcements while Sweet continues the chase. Eventually, Tenpenny loses control on the Ganton overpass and crashes, dying of his wounds. After everything is over, Carl and his friends celebrate in his house.
Aftermath[]
When Kendl asks Carl where he's going, he responds "Just going to hang out in the streets". He then gets a call from Catalina while having sex with Claude, much to his disgust.
Villainous Acts/Crimes[]
Though Carl is one of the less ruthless protagonists (when compared to the likes of Claude or Tommy Vercetti), he still has villainous qualities, having connections with various gangs and syndicates such as the GSF, Triads and even Mike Toreno's clandestine operations, not to mention the optional crimes committed in free roam by the player.
During free roam[]
All of these crimes are non-canon and only up to the player choice:
- Punching, bludgeoning, and stabbing people.
- Gunning down people.
- Car-jacking people, stealing parked cars, planes, bikes, boats, and cars in luxury galleries.
- Driving recklessly, crushing people or destroying their vehicles.
- Setting fire to vehicles or pedestrians.
- Committing vigilantism by hunting and killing criminals after stealing a police vehicle, despite having no qualifications to do so. This is arguably one of the most anti-villainous actions Carl can do.
- Vandalizing public and private property.
- Robbing shops.
- Trespassing by either illegally entering cities or breaking into private properties.
- Taking the prostitutes with the pimp cars.
- Robbing homes.
During the Story-line[]
Murders[]
Named
- Freddy (OG Loc)
- Alan Crawford (Management Issues)
- Andre (Gray Imports)
- Little Weasel (Doberman)
- Kane (Los Sepulcros)
- Derek (Tanker Commander)
- The Snakehead (The Da Nang Thang)
- Jizzy B. (Ice Cold Killa)
- T-Bone Mendez (Pier 69)
- Ryder (Pier 69)
- Marco Forelli (Saint Mark's Bistro)
- Benny (Key to Her Heart)
- Millie Perkins (optional)
- Eddie Pulaski (High Noon)
- Big Poppa (A Home in the Hills)
- Big Smoke (End of the Line)
Unnamed
- A cashier of Pizza Stack (Ryder)
- Alan Crawford's girlfriend (Management Issues)
- An informant
- A foreman
- A pimp
- A couple of punters
- A prostitute
- A preacher
- Preacher's protection
- A reporter
- A journalist
- A dossier carrier
- Numerous Ballas members
- Numerous Vagos members
- Numerous crack dealers
- Numerous Russian mafia members
- Numerous soldiers
- Numerous police officers
- Numerous SWAT members
- Numerous FBI agents
- Numerous farmers
- Numerous warehouse workers
- Numerous crack factory workers
- Numerous Da Nang Boys members
- Numerous San Fierro Rifa members
- Numerous survivalists
- Numerous snake farmers
- Numerous Forelli family members
- Numerous Sindacco family members
- Numerous engineers
- Numerous delivery employees of Berkley's
- Numerous workers
- Numerous security guards
- Numerous bodyguards of Jizzy B.
- Numerous bodyguards of Madd Dogg
- Numerous guards of Caligula's Casino
Theft[]
- A vehicle in Liberty City
- Burglary of Colonel Fuhrberger's home
- Robbery of a national guard depot
- A stereo van
- Madd Dogg's rhyme book
- Robberies of a liquor store, a bank, a betting shop, and a gas station in the countryside
- A tanker and a gas tank trailer
- A sedan from a woman
- Two cars from Otto's Car Showroom
- A vehicle from the docks in Easter Basin
- An SUV from a woman
- A military jetpack
- An unknown green goo
- Sticks of dynamite
- City Planning Building plans
- Four police bikes
- A sky crane helicopter and a security van
- A private jet owned by the Forellis
- Robbery of Caligula's Casino
- A military jet
- A SWAT tank
Destruction[]
- A house in East Los Santos
- A police helicopter
- Multiple delivery vans of Berkley's
- A construction site firm
- A decoy chopper employed by Mike Toreno
- Loco Syndicate's crack factory
- Multiple agent helicopters
- A cargo plane
- A plastics factory
- Multiple military jets and spy ships
- Numerous vehicles
Infiltration[]
- Madd Dogg's mansion
- Da Nang Boys freighter
- Area 69
- A quarry
- A military compound
- Sherman Dam
Other[]
- Vandalism
- Illegal racing competitions across Los Santos and countryside
- The kidnapping and murder of Alan Crawford and his girlfriend
- The framing of District Attorney in San Fierro
- Assault on several ambulances
- Escorting a San Fierro Rifa vehicle
In Memes[]
Just like Big Smoke, Carl has also appeared in the Internet-online memes. Carl's quote and scene from the beginning of the game, have been over-used as memes. The meme started to spread as a wildfire since 2019, when the famous YouTuber by the name FlyingKitty, released his parody-video about the quote, which gained three million views, making the meme blow up much more.
Quotes[]
| “ | Ah shit, here we go again. Worst place in the world. Rollin Heights Balla country. I ain't represented Grove Street in five years, but the Ballas won't give a shit. | „ |
| ~ CJ after being thrown off Officer Tenpenny's police car. |
| “ | Grove Street - Home. At least it was before I fucked everything up. | „ |
| ~ CJ arriving in Grove Street for the first time after 5 years. |
| “ | Ay, ay ay ay! Big Smoke! It's me, Carl! Chill, chill! | „ |
| ~ CJ telling Big Smoke that he isn't an invader after he catches him entering the Johnson House. |
| “ | Not today, asshole. Today, we're taking the scenic route, via the bottom of the ocean! | „ |
| ~ CJ before driving Madd Dogg's manager, Alan Crawford, down to the Pacific Ocean. |
| “ | Nah, nah, you did the right thing. I owe you, Ces. | „ |
| ~ CJ owes Cesar Vialpando for helping him realize Big Smoke and Ryder's betrayal. |
| “ | Yo, Ballas! I'm taking you motherfuckers, you hear me? I'M TAKING YOU ALL DOWN, BITCHES!!! | „ |
| ~ CJ fighting against the Ballas after witnessing Big Smoke and Ryder's betrayal. |
| “ | Motherfucker! That mute asshole! That fucking snake without a tongue! Gave me this shithole instead of a pink slip? I must be the biggest fucking idiot in the whole fucking world! | „ |
| ~ CJ insulting Claude after being awarded a poor condition garage following a race with him and Catalina. |
| “ | Damn, I gotta change my number. | „ |
| ~ CJ after getting harassed by Catalina during a phone call. |
| “ | Getting a little edgy, fellas? | „ |
| ~ CJ taunting Frank Tenpenny and Eddie Pulaski while cooking a BBQ. |
| “ | FUCK YOU TORENO! I never want to go through this again! I think I'm gonna hurl! | „ |
| ~ CJ after finishing Toreno's request in Vertical Bird. |
| “ | Man, what the hood done for me? Always dragging me down. Ever since I got out the hood, shit been cracking. That's everybody's dream to get out of the hood... | „ |
| ~ CJ standing up to his brother Sean "Sweet" Johnson after helping him get out of jail. |
| “ | You sold us out, Ryder. You fucked us all! | „ |
| ~ CJ confronting Ryder before killing him for his betrayal. |
| “ | You an asshole to the end. Punk motherfucker! Hey Eddie - before you go… Go fuck yourself you thick redneck chump! | „ |
| ~ CJ's final words to Eddie Pulaski before murdering him. |
| “ | I'm here to take care of your fat ass and then I'm gonna take care of your friends in the police department. Where they at? | „ |
| ~ CJ ultimately confronts Big Smoke for his betrayal. |
| “ | Why you just didn't quit, man? We was like family, homie. | „ |
| ~ CJ talks some sense into Big Smoke after injuring him before he dies from his gunshot wounds. |
| “ | Ain't that a surprise, I got a gun! | „ |
| ~ CJ's quotes during combat. |
| “ | I HATE GRAVITY! | „ |
| ~ One of CJ's quotes when falling. |
| “ | See you around... officer! | „ |
| ~ CJ gaining the upperhand against Frank Tenpenny who got himself killed in the end. |
| “ | Fittin' to hit the block, see what's happening. | „ |
| ~ CJ's quote before the credits roll after End of the Line. |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Carl Johnson (SA).jpg (33 KB)")
Trivia[]
- Carl is by far one of the most successful protagonists in the Grand Theft Auto series. He successfully managed to destroy the Ballas and to seize Los Santos, to kill Tenpenny and his corrupt fellows, to eliminate Big Smoke and Ryder for their betrayals, to rob the Caligula, to become wealthy and to gain ultimate power for himself. As a result, he eliminated nearly all of his opposition, with only Catalina, Mike Toreno and a few other minor villains escaping his wrath.
- Carl is also one of the most polyvalent protagonists. He possesses a large number of abilities which make him one of the most competent and strongest of the protagonists in the Grand Theft Auto series.
- In addition, the player can upgrade his abilities by training.
- Carl is the first African-American protagonist of the Grand Theft Auto series, with Victor Vance, Luis Fernando Lopez, and Franklin Clinton being the second, third and fourth ones respectively.
- Carl was the first Grand Theft Auto protagonist to not directly kill the main antagonist in his respective game, as Tenpenny dies from blunt force trauma after driving off the bridge while pursued by Carl and Sweet.
- Carl is the first protagonist in the Grand Theft Auto series who says the f-word.
- There are references to Carl in Grand Theft Auto V, while going to Grove Street. Many fans have been speculating whether Carl is still alive. However, Carl is not seen or mentioned, as Rockstar Games had stated that the 3D Era is not connected to the HD era, where GTA V takes place in. Carl’s voice actor, Young Maylay has stated that he is not interested in reprising the role of CJ, and would rather have a different voice actor to play the character and has also said that he now hates Rockstar, (though the reasons are unknown).
External Links[]
- Carl Johnson on the Heroes Wiki
- Carl Johnson on the Grand Theft Auto Wiki
- Carl Johnson on Wikipedia
