Famed regional Mexican singer Natanael Cano and other artists are under state protection in Mexico following public threats from a drug cartel in the northern part of the country. Prosecutors confirmed this development to The Associated Press on Tuesday, in response to a social media post appearing to originate from "Jalisco Matasalas," a group associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. The post accused the singers of providing financial support to a rival gang known as "Salazares."
Over the weekend, a banner circulated on social media, threatening the lives of Cano, a corridos singer (a genre often connected to drug cartel violence), and several other artists in the Sonora region. "Jalisco Matasalas," believed to be part of the "Chapitos" faction within the Sinaloa Cartel, seemingly signed the banner. This group has been responsible for escalating violence in northern Mexico in recent months due to power struggles. The banner warned the artists to "mind their own business" and threatened them with violence if they failed to comply.
The Sonoran Prosecutor's Office confirmed the discovery of the threatening message, which was found hanging from a school, and announced an ongoing investigation. Spokesperson Allan de la Rosa stated that state protection was offered to the artists to prevent any aggression stemming from the direct threat. The specific details of the protection measures were not disclosed.
Cano's communications team has not yet commented on the situation. Corridos, a ballad tradition from northern Mexico, has long been associated with drug violence, while also reflecting the harsh realities faced by many Mexicans living amidst such conflict. The genre, along with other forms of regional Mexican music, is experiencing a revival, with younger artists like Cano and Peso Pluma blending traditional styles with genres like trap music. Streaming of Mexican music has surged 400% on Spotify over the past five years, and in 2023, Mexican artist Peso Pluma surpassed Taylor Swift as the most streamed artist on YouTube.
These artists have historically faced criticism from authorities and threats from drug gangs. In 2023, Peso Pluma, who has referenced drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán in his songs, was forced to cancel a Tijuana show after receiving threats from a Sinaloa Cartel rival. Following this incident, Tijuana banned narco ballad performances to protect young people and mitigate violence. Similar bans have been implemented in other northern states.
The threats against Cano coincide with a surge in violence in Sinaloa and other northern Mexican states, sparked by the capture of narco boss Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, which ignited a war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, including the one allegedly threatening Cano.
