Need for Speed: Underground (Original Game Soundtrack) accompanies the 2003 racing video game Need for Speed: Underground, developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts. Unlike traditional film scores, the soundtrack is a licensed compilation of 26 songs from various artists that define the game’s energetic street racing atmosphere, spanning hip‑hop, rock, electronic, drum and bass, and nu‑metal genres.
The soundtrack was released in conjunction with the game’s launch in 2003 and became known for its curated selection of contemporary tracks that play during races and menus. Not released as a single unified album by a score composer, the tracklist includes songs by artists such as Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz, The Crystal Method, Static‑X, Rob Zombie, Junkie XL, Asian Dub Foundation, Petey Pablo, and T.I., reflecting urban and electronic influences tied to the game’s street culture vibe.
The music enhances Need for Speed: Underground’s high‑octane gameplay with a soundtrack that dynamically blends energetic beats and rock elements. Race sequences predominantly feature electronica, metal, techno, and disco‑infused tracks, while hip‑hop dominates the main menu, contributing to the immersive tone of underground racing culture.
Because the soundtrack comprises licensed songs rather than an original score, it does not contain a traditional runtime or consistent track count in score format, but it remains one of the most memorable gaming soundtracks of the early 2000s for its cultural and stylistic impact.
Composer / Curators: Various licensed artists
Release Context: 2003 (game launch)
Label: Electronic Arts / EA Trax (soundtrack content)
Tracks: 26 licensed songs
Genre: Hip‑hop, rock, electronica, drum and bass (licensed soundtrack)
Need for Speed Underground: Tracklist
- Get Low – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
- Fortress Europe – Asian Dub Foundation
- Born Too Slow – The Crystal Method
- Out of Control – Rancid
- Two-Lane Blacktop – Rob Zombie
- And the Hero Will Drown – Story of the Year
- Need for Speed – Petey Pablo
- Ride – Lostprophets
- Supermoves – Overseer
- Invisible – Hotwire
- The Only – Static-X
- Action Radius – Junkie XL
- Quarter – Fuel
- Sirius – Junkie XL
- C’mon – Overseer
- Doomsday – Overseer
- Smack My Bitch Up – The Prodigy
- Kimosabe – BT
- Broken Promise – Element Eighty
- NFS Underground Main Theme – Various Artists
- Octopus – Jerk
- Broken English – Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction
- We All Died – Cold
- Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk
- Darkness – Disturbed
- Rocket Fuel – Baylon System
