While narcocorridos are banned in some Mexican states and the US government revokes visas for artists who dare to perform them, in the US they are sung openly at mass dances, in an industry that generates millions of dollars in profits.
The Trump administration is targeting war singers, as evidenced by the case of Los Alegres del Barranco, whose members had their visas revoked after a scandal occurred during one of their concerts in Jalisco.
At the event, the musical group performed the song “El Dueño del Palenque” (The Owner of the Palenque), during which images of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), were projected.
Mexicans Don’t Miss Narcocorridos in the US
In contrast, in California, at least one day of narcocorrido concerts takes place every weekend.
These events are packed with Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, African Americans, and even Asians who have been captivated by the strains of songs that tell the stories of criminal leaders like El Mencho or Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and other kingpins.
Last weekend, two corrido tumbado festivals took place in California: Corridos Fest in Modesto and Memorial Day at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena.
Corridos Fest took place on Saturday, May 24, in the community of Modesto, located in Stanislaus County, California. The city, which is five hours away from Los Angeles, is primarily home to Latinos. This festival featured artists such as Los Nuevos Rebeldes, Los Canelos JRS, Los Encinos de Sinaloa, Los Gemelos de Sinaloa, and headliners Javier Rosas and Arley Pérez.
This family-friendly event, attended by minors and even infants, began with the song Soy El Cheyo, a corrido in honor of Eliseo Imperial Castro, known as El Cheyo Ántrax, nephew of Ismael El Mayo Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Between songs, the artists spoke out against the ban on singing corridos in Mexico:
“Tonight is a night of lots of music, lots of corridos, Mexican music with great honor, old man, even though they don’t want us to sing them anymore. Cheers!” said Javier Rosas. After this claim, Rosas opened the track with the corrido Bienvenidos a Jalisco, a song composed for Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes El Mencho, and where it is noted that four letters rule.
