Mexican authorities have announced that they are providing state protection for renowned corridos singer Natanael Cano and other artists after a drug cartel publicly threatened them. Prosecutors confirmed the news to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, photos of a threatening banner targeting Cano and several other artists surfaced on social media. The banner, reportedly signed by the cartel faction known as “Jalisco Matasalas,” accuses the singers of financially supporting the rival group “Salazares.” This faction has been involved in violent power struggles in northern Mexico.
The message on the banner read, “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 stated that the threatening banner was found hanging from a school, prompting an investigation. Allan de la Rosa, a spokesperson for the prosecutors, indicated that authorities are taking precautions to “prevent any aggression related to the direct threat displayed on the banner,” though he did not provide specific details on the protection measures being offered.
Cano’s team has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the threats.
Corridos, a genre of ballads that often reflects the realities of life under narco violence in northern Mexico, has seen a resurgence, especially among younger artists like Cano and Peso Pluma, who blend traditional styles with modern influences like trap music.
Streaming of Mexican music has skyrocketed, growing 400% on platforms like Spotify over the last five years, and in 2023, Peso Pluma surpassed Taylor Swift as the most streamed artist on YouTube.
These artists have frequently faced scrutiny from authorities and threats from drug gangs. Earlier, Peso Pluma had to cancel a concert in Tijuana after receiving ominous warnings from a rival cartel. Following that, Tijuana banned the performance of narcocorridos outright in an effort to protect youth from violence.
The threats against Cano come amid rising violence in Sinaloa and other northern regions in Mexico, exacerbated by the recent kidnapping and capture of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leading to intensified conflict among rival factions, including the one that threatened Cano.
Credit: ABC News
