After becoming one of the most popular and successful singers of ‘narcocorridos,’ Peso Pluma disappeared from the Mexican stage. Rival groups to the Sinaloa Cartel had threatened his life.
Since 2023, Peso Pluma has canceled multiple performances due to security and personal reasons. Notable cancellations include shows in Tijuana and other Mexican cities because of threats, as well as his 2025 European tour. Most recently, in January 2026, he canceled his participation in FEP2026 due to commitments with his U.S. tour.
Peso Pluma, whose rise in the music scene has been meteoric thanks to his talent and whose lyrics reflect the reality of many areas in Mexico, received threats from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) via narcomantas (banners) posted around Tijuana.
Before a performance, the singer claimed he was not intimidated and even boasted about wearing a 70,000-peso bulletproof jacket. The CJNG is notorious for threatening singers who perform corridos favoring their rivals—a recurring story in narcocorrido history.
Peso Pluma was not the first to face such threats. Valentin Elizalde received an ultimatum before performing at the Reynosa fair palenque but sang a corrido called “A mis enemigos” anyway. He was killed by a heavily armed Zetas commando afterward, allegedly on the order of El Hummer. Tito y su Torbellino similarly underestimated the danger and was killed in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora.
A few years ago, influencer Pirata de Culiacan insulted CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes “El Mencho” in a video and was killed by an armed commando in a bar in Zapopan.
Peso Pluma feels protected by 12 friends who call themselves “The 12 Apostles,” along with two security personnel and possibly hiring two more.
After the recent death of El Mencho, Peso Pluma’s fears may have eased slightly, as the assassination order against him could be reconsidered. However, he will still need to wait for cartel reorganizations before evaluating his chances of safely returning to Mexico.
The Sinaloa Cartel, previously his protector, has weakened and may no longer offer reliable protection.
Peso Pluma spends most of his time in Europe and remains largely silent, but he has not forgotten the threat posed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
