Initially, President Trump focused on dismantling Mexico's drug cartels. Now, it appears he's targeting musicians who create music about them.
Getting (Un)Familiar with the. Unconventional Sounds of Atlanta's Nightlife
Amid the bustling nightlife of downtown Atlanta, a rooftop bar echoed with the rhythmic beats of Orden Activa, about to perform a Mexican ballad that seemed merely a tribute to rural folklore. However, as the music kicked off, the crowd transformed, rising as one, singing in Spanish, donning cowboy hats, and moving in sync.
"I'm the master of roostersOf the Jalisco cartel.My cohorts wield roostersThat fight to my tune."
The spectacle appeared harmless to the untrained eye. But this was no ordinary mariachi band. They were playing a narcocorrido, a song about the drug trade underworld, and their performance had recently landed them in the crosshairs of two governments.
Leaving mixed emotions and question marks in their wake, their transgression earned them a defiant fanbase and a criminal investigation - all because the lyrics "glorified a drug kingpin."
The Lyrics of Defiance: Los Alegres del Barranco's Fatal Mistake?
Los Alegres del Barranco found themselves in a heated battle with both US and Mexican authorities when they performed "El del Palenque" in Zapopan, Mexico, commemorating the exploits of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's leader, El Mencho. The performance, complete with a cartoon portrait of him, marked the end of their ambitious US tour plans and the beginning of legal trouble at home.
In the crosshairs of escalating US-Mexico tensions over cross-border crime, the synchronized dance floor of the once-oblivious audience shone a harsh light on the once-misunderstood narcocorrido genre. The venue where the performance occurred swiftly apologized, with the Jalisco prosecutor's office vowing to investigate, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned of potential law violations. Finally, the US State Department revoked their visas.
Spawning a New Wave of Controversy
The action against Los Alegres del Barranco marked the first such punishment from the State Department, according to Elijah Wald, author of an English-language narcocorrido guidebook. The move was seen by some as the latest show of force by the Trump administration against Mexico, fueling controversy with its immigration crackdowns and tariff conflicts.
While narcocorridos have been subjected to censorship on and off in Mexico for decades, the increased pressure from the US to crack down on cartels has led to a wave of performance bans in multiple Mexican states. However, only time will tell if the newfound fear of angering US authorities will convince more artists to self-censor, dimming the light on a genre that once fearlessly celebrated the lives and struggles of drug underworld figures.
A Genre With Deep Roots and Moderne Influence
The State Department's actions crushed Los Alegres del Barranco's US tour aspirations, but their popularity, as well as that of the narcocorrido genre, remained largely unaffected. With over 2 million new streamings in their wake, the band gained more followers than ever before.
Tracing its roots back to 19th-century folk music, the genre evolved to tell tales of infamous bandits, generals, horses, and even fighting roosters. During Prohibition, a subgenre - the narcocorrido - emerged, focusing on the tales of those smuggling illicit substances from Mexico to the United States.
One hundred years later, the most popular musical figure among US YouTube users was not Taylor Swift, but the narcocorrido singer Peso Pluma, demonstrating the genre's lasting modern appeal.
Shifting Landscape: Corrupted Art Form or Normalized Violence?
Some experts argue that a significant cultural shift occurred when drug traffickers started commissioning songs about themselves in the mid-1980s. The legendary "King of Corridos," Chalino Sanchez, was at the forefront of this shift, leading to an economic transformation of the music industry. Suddenly, anyone with money could commission a laudatory corrido, lending a dangerous dimension to the art form for many performers.
Sam Quinones, a writer exploring music and drug trade in Mexico and California, criticizes the shift, describing it as the corruption of an art form that initially celebrated outlaws and underdogs. Others dismiss the accusations, comparing narcocorridos to gangster rap, violent video games, or films like The Godfather.
While some Mexican states have tried to ban narcocorridos, Mexico's President Sheinbaum has taken a more liberal approach, encouraging a focus on music advocating peace and love as an alternative. Others argue that this approach is doomed to fall short.
A Matter of Creative Freedom vs. Government Control
The polarizing topic of narcocorridos has fueled a debate about creative freedom versus government control. Emmanuel Gonzalez, a fan who attended a concert in Atlanta, expressed frustration with efforts to censor the music, stating, "As a Mexican, banning corridos makes us feel less." Other fans have been more vocal, even resorting to trash the stage when a singer refused to perform drug-themed songs at a concert due to a local ban.
While the controversy surrounding narcocorridos shows no signs of abating, one thing is certain: driving underground an art form that has always celebrated the rebellious spirit may serve only to strengthen its draw. Violet Uresti, another Atlanta concertgoer, summed up this sentiment: "I like the vibe. I like the way it brings people together. If they ban it, we're still gonna listen to it."
The narcocorrido genre, popular in Atlanta's nightlife, found itself at the center of a political storm when Los Alegres del Barranco performed a song commemorating a drug cartel leader.This performance, which occurred amid escalating US-Mexico tensions over cross-border crime, led to investigations from both the US and Mexican authorities, the revocation of their visas by the US State Department, and a wave of performance bans in multiple Mexican states.In the midst of this controversy, some argue that the narcocorrido genre, with its deep roots in Mexican folk music, has evolved into a reflection of contemporary society and its issues, while others see it as a glorification of violence and a corruption of traditional art forms.The debate surrounding creative freedom vs. government control and the potential consequences of banning the genre continue to polarize opinions, with fans expressing their frustrations and defiance, insisting that the music remains an integral part of their culture and identity.
