Peso Pluma Receives Death Threats: He ‘Must’ Cancel Tijuana’s Concert

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Peso Pluma, one of the most prominent figures in the corridos tumbados genre and an artist who has played a crucial role in the internationalization of contemporary Mexican music, is at the center of controversy.

Corridos Tumbados: Popular but Dangerous

The Mexican singer has risen to prominence in recent months, becoming one of the most important artists globally, thanks to his music and lyrics that, in part, reference historical leaders of certain drug cartels in his country, such as El Chapo Guzmán or José Esparragoza Moreno.

It is precisely these references in his corridos tumbados that have propelled his career, but they have also put him in the crosshairs of rival cartels mentioned in his songs –same as Natanael Cano. 

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, in the past few hours, four large banners have simultaneously appeared in Tijuana, serving as warnings to the artist, whose real name is Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija. These banners state that he must cancel his scheduled concert in the city on October 14th at the Estadio Caliente if he wants to ensure it won’t be his last. 

According to the Mexican press, the handwritten banners were signed with the initials CJNG, referring to the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, the main rival of Sinaloa, the historic cartel linked to El Chapo Guzmán. 

Investigation

The true authors of these banners are currently unknown, and the Tijuana Police, who have already made one arrest, continue to investigate the case. Montserrat Caballero, the city’s mayor, has announced that the city government will evaluate whether it’s necessary to cancel Peso Pluma’s concert to ensure both the artist’s and the attendees’ safety. 

The mayor of Tijuana, like other Mexican politicians, had previously expressed opposition to corridos tumbados and even suggested the need to ban concerts by such artists in the city.

However, in light of the threats, she has nuanced her stance, stating to the Los Angeles Times, ‘Simply shutting down the music is not enough; we need to understand why our young people identify with these lyrics, that’s the root of the problem. Even if I were to ban ‘corridos,’ young people would still listen to them.’

The singer, who appears to be focused on his music and enjoying the success he’s achieving with his music, has not commented on these threats to date, and neither has his management team nor the promoter of the tour he is currently conducting in Mexico. 

Grupo Arriesgado’s Concert Cancellation

If the Tijuana city council ultimately cancels Peso Pluma’s concert, it would be the second of its kind not held in the city this year. Last February, the regional Mexican group Grupo Arriesgado’s show was postponed indefinitely after a series of threats and gunshots occurred during a CD signing event that the artists held the day before they were scheduled to perform.