“For you I fight like Los Chapitos in Culiacán”: Anuel AA releases singles with references to the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG

Anuel AA’s artistic career has been fraught with controversy. From his torrid romance with Karol G, to his support for Donald Trump, to his time in prison, these have put the Puerto Rican rapper in the spotlight on more than one occasion.

Accustomed to controversy, the singer of songs like Soldado y Profeta and Quiere Beber has once again captured the public’s attention after the release of songs that, while retaining his musical essence, explicitly mention two of Mexico’s most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations: the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

While the Puerto Rican rapper’s discography is made up of songs and albums with diverse themes, the “maleanteo” (criminality) and stereotypes surrounding what it supposedly means to be a “capo” or “gangster” have always been present in his musical project.

Although Anuel AA is not a performer of corridos tumbados (tragedy), the similarity of his lyrics to those of the regional Mexican subgenre has stood out because the release of his new songs comes in a context where the US government and some Mexican venues have sought to ban the performance of “narcocorridos” under the argument that they glorify organized crime.

Last May, the popular group Fuerza Regida released their ninth studio album, 111XPANTIA. To the surprise of their fans, the Deluxe version of the album included only two collaborations: one with Mexican reggaeton singer Bellakath and the other with Anuel AA.

Fuerza Regida’s versatility has allowed them to explore genres other than regional Mexican music. However, this shift in sound hasn’t prevented them from eliminating warlike elements from their lyrics, which, while propelling them to success, have also made them targets for cancellations and even threats.