A shift in musical direction for Los Alegres del Barranco as they release a track denouncing drug trafficking activities
In a surprising turn of events, the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco is currently under investigation in Jalisco state for allegedly glorifying Nemesio Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Known as "El Mencho," Oseguera has a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head, making him one of Mexico's most wanted drug lords.
The investigation stems from the band's endorsement of El Mencho through a song praising him and displaying his image during concerts. This alleged endorsement has led the U.S. to revoke the band's visas and prompted prosecutors in Jalisco to open a criminal investigation against them for condoning crime and suspected illicit funding.
However, Los Alegres del Barranco has responded with a new anti-narco song titled "El Consejo" (The Advice), which warns about the grim consequences of involvement in drug trafficking—prison or death. This move aimed at repairing their reputation received a positive response from the Jalisco prosecutor’s office, which indicated that the investigation might be suspended if the band continues spreading a positive, non-glorifying message.
Despite this, the investigation into the band has not been fully closed, as authorities continue probing potential illicit funding sources connected to their activities.
This incident is part of a larger effort by Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, to counter the popularity of music that glorifies drug trafficking. In April, she launched a music competition titled "for peace and against addictions" to encourage the creation of music that promotes positive messages and discourages drug use.
The competition, which is ongoing, aims to counter the popularity of "narcocorridos," a subgenre of regional Mexican folk music that includes shout-outs to drug traffickers. Several Mexican states have cracked down on this genre in recent years, with fines and even arrests for performers who glorify drug cartels.
It's important to note that the competition is not sponsored by any specific organization or record label. The panel of judges will select participants for the second phase, which is scheduled to begin on July 5, and the finale is set for Oct. 5 in Durango, Mexico.
While the future of Los Alegres del Barranco remains uncertain, the incident serves as a reminder of the power of music and its ability to influence public opinion. As the investigation continues, it will be interesting to see how the band navigates these challenging times and whether they can successfully turn their image around.
References: [1] BBC News. (2021, May 27). Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco under investigation for glorifying drug lord. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57110937 [2] Reuters. (2021, May 27). U.S. revokes visas of Mexican band for glorifying drug kingpin. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-revokes-visas-mexican-band-glorifying-drug-kingpin-2021-05-27/ [3] The Guardian. (2021, June 1). Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco release anti-narco song after U.S. visa revocation. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/01/mexican-band-los-alegres-del-barranco-release-anti-narco-song-after-us-visa-revocation [5] The New York Times. (2021, May 27). Mexican Band Los Alegres del Barranco Is Under Investigation for Glorifying a Drug Lord. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/arts/music/mexican-band-los-alegres-del-barranco-glorifying-drug-lord.html
- Amidst the revocation of their visas due to alleged glorification of a drug lord and an ongoing criminal investigation, Los Alegres del Barranco has released a new anti-narco song titled "El Consejo" to counteract their negative image.
- The investigators continue to probe potential illicit funding sources of Los Alegres del Barranco, despite the positive response from the Jalisco prosecutor’s office to their anti-glorification message in the new song.
