On the day of his performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, a banner threatening the 24-year-old Mexican star was posted in Tijuana.
At VMAs, Peso Pluma Talks “Overcoming Barriers”
On the VMAs pink carpet, Peso Pluma says it was “a dream” to see Mexican music “known worldwide,” while Yung Miami celebrated women in rap and Grandmaster Flash reflected on 50 years of hip-hop. (12th September)
AP
A Mexican cartel has threatened recording artist Peso Pluma ahead of his MTV Video Music Awards debut and concert Oct. 14 at Caliente Stadium in Tijuana, Mexico.
On Tuesday, a banner threatening the 24-year-old Mexican singer, whose real name is Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, was placed on a bridge in the border city of Tijuana. It was signed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, reported The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“This goes to Peso Pluma. Refrain from performing on October 14th as this will be your last show due to your disrespect and loose tongue. If you show up, we will (break) you,” the banner said.
Pluma, who performed at the VMAs on Tuesday night, has not commented on the threat. Several of his upcoming shows have been postponed or canceled, but it’s unclear if that’s because of the threats.
Peso Pluma representatives did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment Wednesday.
Peso Pluma postpones several upcoming concerts
Pluma’s concert at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances,” the venue posted online and further social media on Tuesday.
Pluma’s show at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont, Illinois, on Friday was also postponed and Saturday’s show at the Old National Center in Indianapolis was canceled.
Pluma’s official website lists his next show as September 28th in Reno, Nevada.
Cartel threatened band in February
Grupo Arriesgado, a narcocorrido band from Sinaloa state that sings about drug culture, was at a Tijuana mall in February signing autographs when men fired shots and forced the musicians to leave the city, the Louisville Courier Journal reported, Part the USA TODAY Network.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel’s main rival, left a written message giving the band a few hours to leave Tijuana or they would face death.
Grupo Arriesgado, which translates to “risky group,” canceled their Tijuana concert and later canceled upcoming U.S. tour dates
Narcocorridos: Mexico’s “narcocorridos” are going mainstream. What’s behind their explosion in popularity?
Peso Pluma’s music
The narcocorrido genre, often accused of glorifying drug cartels, has exploded in popularity, reaching global pop charts and filling arenas.
Pluma, a native of Zapopan, Jalisco, is one of the leaders of the new era of “corridos,” Mexican narrative songs or ballads that recount a heroic battle.
Pluma has emerged alongside other artists on the Billboard, Spotify and Apple Music charts with a new subgenre called “corridos tumbados,” which translates to “beaten or lying,” and the already established “corridos bélicos.” which means “warlike.”
Peso Pluma on the global spread of Mexican music
In the music video for his 2022 song “El Bélicon” with Raúl Vega, Pluma carries what looks like a machine gun and sings lyrics such as:
“I’m in charge here/Sports cars in my collection/Minimis, bazookas and Kalashnikovs/All my boys are ready/They like action.”
“The corridos have always been heavily attacked and demonized,” Peso Pluma told The Associated Press after his performance at Coachella in April. “At the end of the day, it’s music – you see it in rap, you see it in hip hop, you see it in reggaeton.”
On Tuesday night before the VMAs, Pluma told AP, “It feels great to hear all these people from different countries singing my songs.”
“It’s just a dream and I’m very grateful for the genre that I do. It’s going global, it’s breaking down barriers,” he continued. “I’m just grateful for all the people who support Mexican music.”
Contributors: Diana Garcia, correspondent in Mexico City and Karol Suárez, The Courier Journal