Los Nacrocorridos and the Drug War

The New York Times article, Minstrels in the Court of the Kingpin, talks about how narcocorridos, which are controversial songs, usually ballads, that glorify drug lords and drug violence, are affecting peoples outlook and how the government has responded to this type of music.

The article talks about Los Tucanes, a famous band in Mexico that has made many "unofficial" nacrocorridos that are tributes to Mr. Lopez, a high ranking member of the Tijuana drug cartel. These nacrocorridos have become more and more popular, especially in cities where drug violence is most prominent, and killings have become a daily part of life. George Castaneda, a former foreign secretary of Mexico says, “the corridos are attempts by Mexican society to come to terms with the world around them, and drug violence is a big part of that world."

But, these songs have been banned from the radio and, in January, "the country’s ruling party drew up a congressional proposal to issue prison sentences of up to three years to artists who glorify traffickers in songs or films." The government, and other supporters of reform, see these songs as detrimental to societies trying to fight the drug cartels because it normalizes violence and drugs and makes them feel like a more permanent part of life.

This issue brings to question Mexican citizens right to freedom of speech and how secure their Civil Rights are if ballads and movies can be banned from being shown and heard because of their content; and people can be jailed for things they say in movies and songs.