In a shocking turn of events, a Mexican artist was forced to flee his concert stage on Saturday after enraging fans by announcing that he had been banned by the government from singing popular songs glorifying drug traffickers.
Narcocorridos, a controversial sub-genre of music in Mexico, celebrates the exploits of the country’s infamous drug cartels. President Claudia Sheinbaum has recently launched a music contest “for peace and against addictions” to counter the popularity of narcocorridos among young people in Mexico and the United States.
The chaos erupted early Saturday in the city of Texcoco, 15 miles outside Mexico City, when Luis R. Conriquez told the crowd that he could not sing his popular songs praising leaders of the Sinaloa cartel.
“It’s a law that must be respected… I also feel bad for not singing what you want to hear,” Conriquez said in videos posted online.
Booing soon escalated into objects and beer being thrown at the singer and his band, who were forced to flee the stage. Later, nearly 20 people stormed the stage, destroying musical instruments and sound equipment.
Conriquez’s manager, Freddy Perez, said on Instagram that the artist obeyed the government’s order “not to sing corridos.” He added, “The situation led to a violent attack on our artist, band, and crew… People reacted very badly, destroying instruments and audio equipment.”
The state government confirmed the incident in a statement, saying there were no injuries. It urged against “condoning violence, referring to figures linked to criminal acts or drug use” at public events.
Narcocorridos are banned at public events in states including Nayarit, Baja California, Chihuahua, and Quintana Roo. The genre has flourished on digital platforms, with its popularity boosted by the rags-to-riches stories in the songs.
The controversy comes amid a broader debate about the role of music in promoting or condemning violence in Mexico. Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department revoked the visas of members of a Mexican band after they projected the face of a drug cartel boss onto a large screen during a performance in Jalisco.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on social media that the work and tourism visas of members of Los Alegres del Barranco were revoked due to their promotion of violence.
The incident highlights the complex relationship between music, politics, and violence in Mexico. While some argue that narcocorridos provide a voice for marginalized communities, others see them as glorifying crime and perpetuating violence.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the impact of music on Mexican society will be felt for years to come.
Source: CBS News
