TOLUCA, Mexico, 13 April 2025 — A live performance in Mexico descended into chaos over the weekend after singer Luis R. Conriquez announced on stage that he had been prohibited by the government from performing narcocorridos—a genre of music that glorifies drug lords and cartel activity.
The incident occurred in Texcoco, roughly 25 kilometres northeast of Mexico City, where Conriquez was met with initial booing that swiftly escalated into physical aggression. Audience members hurled drinks and objects at the artist and his band after he explained that authorities had barred him from singing his popular tracks lauding members of the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
“It’s a law that must be respected… I also feel bad for not singing what you want to hear,” Conriquez told the crowd, according to video footage shared widely online. Moments later, the performance was halted, and Conriquez and his crew were forced to flee the stage.
The scene quickly turned violent. Nearly 20 individuals stormed the stage, vandalising musical instruments and sound equipment, though local authorities later confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Freddy Perez, Conriquez’s manager, issued a statement via Instagram, explaining that the artist had simply followed a direct government instruction “not to sing corridos.” Perez added that the band was subjected to a “violent attack” as a result, noting the damage caused to both equipment and morale.
The concert took place just days after President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a new cultural initiative titled “Music for Peace and Against Addiction,” a campaign aimed at discouraging the glorification of drug culture, particularly among young audiences in both Mexico and the United States.
Narcocorridos—often seen as modern-day folk tales of crime and fortune—remain a controversial fixture in Mexican popular culture. While many of the songs tell rags-to-riches stories that captivate younger audiences, they are criticised for romanticising cartel violence and perpetuating criminal influence.
Due to their contentious nature, these songs are already banned at public events in several Mexican states, including Nayarit, Baja California, Chihuahua, and Quintana Roo. Nonetheless, the genre continues to flourish on digital platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, where censorship is more difficult to enforce.
In response to the weekend’s events, the State Government of Mexico issued a formal statement condemning the violence and calling for greater responsibility at public gatherings. The statement also urged event organisers and performers to avoid promoting figures associated with criminal activity or drug use.
The confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between artistic freedom and national efforts to curb the cultural appeal of narcotics-related crime in a country long scarred by cartel violence.
