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Why much of Mexico is banning pop ballads about drug traffickers

BBG News

Mexico City – On a bustling night within a crowded club in Mexico City, numerous youths enthusiastically joined in as a band performed a well-known tune chronicling the tale of a foot soldier from the Sinaloa drug cartel.

I like to work/ And if the order is to kill / You don’t question it.

And for those who misbehave/ There’s no chance to explain/ I throw them into the grave.

In Mexico, narcocorridos – also known as drug ballads – have never been more widely listened to. This is due to a new demographic that grew up amidst the ongoing drug conflict, who find appeal in songs that narrate and frequently romanticize the rewards and dangers associated with organized crime activities.

However, the specific genre has been facing growing opposition. In recent years, approximately one-third of Mexican states and numerous cities have imposed bans on performing narco-themed songs. Violations can lead to severe penalties such as hefty fines and imprisonment.

It appears that Mexico City could soon prohibit certain songs from being played during government functions and on government premises, as suggested by Mayor Clara Brugada’s intentions to enact such a law.

“We can’t be promoting violence through music,” she said.

These restrictions, enacted during President Trump’s intense emphasis on drug trafficking in Mexico, have ignited discussions about free speech and government censorship. They’ve also posed thought-provoking questions: Are narcocorridos merely a reflection of the harsh reality in a country dominated by powerful drug cartels? Or do they hold some influence over shaping that reality?

Amaya, who organized the Guitarrazos event at a Mexico City nightclub featuring narcocorridos performances last week, stated that it’s more important for the government to prioritize enhancing security instead of targeting young musicians.

If you alter the world around us,” Amaya explained, “the kind of music we listen to could also change. However, modifying songs isn’t going to transform the world.

Songs about drugs are part of the corrido genre, a music style that originated in the 1800s and served as a means to document life during times when literacy was not widespread among many people.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d say: Every tune spun a tale for me. There were ballads that detailed the escapades of roguish bandits and renegades, some reminiscent of Robin Hood, who managed to outsmart bumbling authorities and champion the downtrodden. Others recounted episodes from the Mexican Revolution or the U.S. invasion of Mexico in 1846, painting vivid pictures with each note they struck.

More recently, with Mexico serving as a significant entry point for the American drug trade, leading to wealth for certain individuals while taking the lives of countless others, artists have also reflected this reality in their work.

Jose Manuel Valenzuela Arce, a sociologist from Tijuana, noted that the whole chronicle of Mexican social history unfolds through ballads, or corridos. He emphasized that these ballads represent an immaterial yet crucial aspect of our cultural legacy.

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1. A dancer is adorned with a diamond necklace while dancing at Los Guitarrazos.

2. The genre of ballads about drugs falls under corridos, a musical style originating in the 1800s that served as a means to document life for those who were illiterate.

Valenzuela penned a book on the latest style of drug narratives, referred to as corridos tumbados, that blend acoustic guitars, trumpets, and elements of American gangster rap’s aesthetic and lyrics. Supporters of this music, such as artist Peso Pluma, who often performs wearing bulletproof vests and sings about diamond-studded firearms and cocaine shipments, have propelled the genre onto international stages.

Last year, the globally popular 25-year-old musician known as “Featherweight” ranked seventh among all artists streamed on Spotify. In 2023, a track by this artist named Peso Pluma was chosen by former President Obama for his annual list of favorite songs – notably, this song doesn’t address the topic of drug trafficking.

Devotees of this specific musical style have often encountered opposition from the government, who have on numerous occasions attempted to prohibit the music since the 1980s.

However, this year saw renewed public focus on an ongoing dispute due to a performance by Los Alegres del Barranco in Michoacan state. During their show, they displayed pictures of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Remarkably, this concert took place near a recently-discovered cartel training camp.

The concert sparked anger among many Mexicans, leading Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla of Michoacan to prohibit public events that celebrate crime and violence. This was later followed by similar restrictions in other states such as Aguascalientes, Queretaro, and Mexico state.

In a few days’ time, the Trump government declared that they would be canceling the US visas for the members of Los Alegres del Barranco.

Chris Landau, the deputy secretary of state, stated on X that the final thing we don’t want is an invitation for individuals who praise criminals and terrorists.

I strongly support the right to express oneself freely, yet it’s essential to understand that actions have repercussions. Notably, a Mexican band, Los Alegres del Barranco, depicted images praising drug lord “El Mencho” – leader of the brutally violent CJNG cartel – during a recent performance.

— Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) April 2, 2025

President Claudia Sheinbaum has made it clear that she is against enforcing bans, yet she also holds no affinity for music associated with drug trafficking. In a recent announcement, she unveiled plans for a nationwide song competition encouraging compositions on topics other than drug trafficking.

Instead of outright prohibition, the focus should be on teaching, directing, and encouraging young people to steer clear of such music, she explained.

However, these bans are gaining traction, as evidenced by a recent poll showing that 62% of respondents favor restrictions on narcocorridos. This situation has left the genre’s performers in a delicate predicament. Their audience expects them to play their popular songs, but performing them is becoming progressively hazardous.

In a state where the playing of such songs was recently prohibited, artist Luis R. Conríquez opted not to perform his songs that glorify drug trafficking activities.

I was aghast as the crowd’s fury escalated, causing him to hastily exit the stage while they hurled verbal jabs, beer bottles, and even chairs. Later, their rage culminated in the destruction of my band’s precious musical instruments.

Others musicians, such as corridos tumbados star Natanael Cano, have pressed on despite the bans.

This month, a 24-year-old individual delivered a performance at an annual festival held in the state of Aguascalientes. Remarkably, this took place only a few days following a warning from local officials to musicians to abstain from playing drug-related songs.

Initially, he performed tunes from his collection that dealt with love and various topics. However, it didn’t take long for fans to demand well-known tracks like “Cuerno azulado,” a song that discusses blue-tinted AK-47s and the agreements between drug traffickers and the government.

Cano first told audience members they should press their leaders to roll back the bans.

“You have to ask your government,” Cano said. “Don’t come here asking me for it.”

Ultimately, he gave in and performed a song titled “Pacas de Billete,” symbolizing the infamous drug lord Joaquín Guzmán, also known as “El Chapo.” However, after the event’s management silenced the music, Cano’s team switched to their own sound system. Despite this, the lights were later dimmed and the artist departed the stage for the airport. Notably, local authorities have chosen not to file charges against him.

A while back, Cano was penalized with a $50,000 fee due to his performance of narcocorridos in Chihuahua, one of the initial states to institute such a prohibition.

World & Nation

She is the attorney for Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, leveraging her connection with Mexico’s infamous cartel leader to kickstart a music career. Performing under the stage name La Abogada.

In recent times, the band known as Los Alegres del Barranco, who recently displayed an image of El Mencho in Michoacan, has been attempting to avoid legal restrictions by organizing karaoke events where they play the music and display song lyrics for the crowd to sing along.

In many instances, it’s the organized crime groups that pose a greater danger to numerous stars. These criminal networks frequently pay for mentions within songs – even Peso Pluma has admitted receiving such payments – and regrettably, numerous artists in this genre have been murdered over time, occasionally by adversaries of the hitmen or drug traffickers they’ve portrayed in their music. Last year, Peso Pluma cancelled a performance in Tijuana following threats on his life.

Advocates for these restrictions believe they’re crucial to prevent future generations from glorifying violence in their romantic ideals, and as a tribute to those whose lives have been taken by violence.

In simpler terms, Mauricio Farah Gebara, a columnist for Milenio newspaper, wrote that it might be suggested to inform victims’ families and their loved ones that prioritizing the right to free speech of those who promote violence is more important than implementing safety measures to protect Mexican lives.

But for the genre’s devotees, the bans smack of classicism.

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1. A spectator captures the performance of the musicians on video.

2. One audience member adorns their wrist with a sparkling diamond bracelet.

As a passionate enthusiast of narcocorridos, I couldn’t help but notice the hypocrisy at play: it seems that while I’m often criticized for my music choices, those same critics were seen dancing away at the vibrant gathering in Mexico City just last week.

As a discerning film critic, I find it intriguing that a Netflix series on the subject of drug trafficking can garner critical acclaim and standing ovations. However, when an individual hailing from the very neighborhoods they portray decides to sing about similar themes, it’s suddenly deemed as a justification for violence? This dichotomy is both fascinating and troubling.

Instead of banning it, she suggested, might be a more effective approach. Young people, as you know, tend to resist being told what they can’t do.

“This only makes it more appealing,” she said. “This will only make us stronger.”

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2025-05-11 13:32

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