Name: Narcocorridos: Mexican songs glorifying cartels create controversy
Uploaded: 2025-12-20T08:52:20.646Z
Duration: 2 min 58 s
Description: A popular genre of Mexican music that authorities say glorifies cartel life is being banned in some states. Narcocorridos, or drug ballads, have become a cultural flashpoint, amassing millions of listeners while drawing fierce criticism from politicians.

A popular genre of Mexican music that authorities say glorifies cartel life is being banned in some states. Narcocorridos, or drug ballads, have become a cultural flashpoint, amassing millions of listeners while drawing fierce criticism from politicians.

Mexico City

Narco corridos, a genre of Mexican music that glorifies drug traffickers and cartel lifestyles, have become increasingly popular, particularly in regions like Sinaloa. Prominent artists and local singers have brought these songs to the forefront of Latino music, despite concerns from government officials that they promote violence.

In response, several Mexican states have banned public performances of narco corridos, and the United States has revoked visas for some groups performing them. The Mexican government is also promoting alternative music that encourages peace, while some performers express personal conflict over the messages in their songs.

Narcocorridos: Mexican songs glorifying cartels create controversy

The beach, the bracing air of the Pacific Ocean and a group singing ballads to the country's drug traffickers. That's not how the Mexican government would like outsiders or those within the country to see Mexico. But Narco Corridos, songs which glorify kingpins and their lifestyles, have become immensely popular here. Narco Corridos have always been around, but they've been pushed to the forefront of Latino music by multi-million artists like Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano, followed by young local singers like Brian here in Mazatlán, Sinaloa State, itself an epicentre of the drug war. Narco Corridos are really part of the culture here in Sinaloa. It's what people ask us for and it's what we play the most, mainly because of the stories, the stories that happened here, which people identify with. From drug lords to day-to-day life within the cartel, government officials say it all promotes violence. And now, several Mexican states have banned the performance of Narco Corridos in public. That hasn't always gone down well. This was the response of fans at a gig of star Luis Erecon Ríquez when he said he couldn't play them. The United States next door is also revoking the visas of groups who play Narco Corridos, like Alegres del Branco, after they appeared on stage with a huge projection of Nemesio Oseguera, alias El Mencho, a notorious drug lord. There can be worse things that await singers of Narco Corridos. Just recently, a singer from this state, Sinaloa, who sang about members of the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartel, was murdered. He's far from the first. Bryan says that sometimes he too feels ambivalent about what he's singing. I have kids and I wouldn't like it if tomorrow my son identifies with a corrido and wants to do what it says. I don't think it's right. Does that conflict you sometimes? My son is going to grow up. He's eight years old now, but by the time he's 17, 18, he'll say, hey dad, did you sing this? What am I going to tell him? What explanation will I give to him? The Mexican government's now trying to create a space for other options, launching its own competition for songs which promote peace. Hoping that can beat the lure of tunes of cocaine shipments, gold-plated guns and death.

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