MEXICO CITY — In response to a drug cartel’s public threats, Mexican authorities have extended state protection to renowned regional Mexican musician Natanael Cano and several other artists, as confirmed by local prosecutors.
Over the weekend, social media was flooded with images of a banner targeting Cano, well-known for his corridos, a genre frequently associated with drug cartel conflicts. The threat originated from a group called “Jalisco Matasalas,” which is part of a faction within the Sinaloa cartel known as the Chapitos. This faction has contributed to a wave of violence in northern Mexico amid a brutal power struggle. The gang accused the musicians of financially supporting a rival faction known as Salazares.
The banner contained a stark message: “This is the last time you will receive a warning, just in time for you to cut the crap. Mind your own business. If you don’t heed this warning, you will be shot.” The Sonoran Prosecutor’s Office later reported that the threatening message was discovered hanging from a school, prompting them to initiate an investigation.
A spokesperson for the prosecutors, Allan de la Rosa, indicated that authorities are providing state protection to the affected artists to safeguard them from potential aggression linked to the threats made on the banner. The specifics of the protective measures were not disclosed. Cano’s team has yet to comment on the situation.
Corrido music, characterized by its ballad style originating from northern Mexico, has a longstanding association with drug-related violence; however, it also portrays the harsh realities of life for many Mexicans living under such turbulent conditions. Recently, this musical genre has surged in popularity, with younger talents like Cano and Peso Pluma infusing traditional styles with contemporary genres such as trap.
In the last five years, streaming of Mexican music on platforms like Spotify has risen dramatically, up by 400%. Remarkably, in 2023, Peso Pluma outperformed Taylor Swift to become YouTube’s most streamed artist. Despite their success, these musicians frequently encounter criticism from government officials and threats from drug cartels.
Peso Pluma, who has referenced notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in his songs, had to cancel a concert in Tijuana after receiving threats indicating it would be his “last performance” if he moved forward. In response, Tijuana has prohibited the performance of narco ballads to protect its youth in an effort to reduce violence, with local authorities in northern regions also having banned musicians from performing narco-corridos in the past.
The recent threats against Cano come amid heightened violence in Sinaloa and other northern Mexican states, a situation exacerbated by the kidnapping and capture of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leading to all-out war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, including the group that issued threats against Cano.
