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Mexican authorities have provided state protection to renowned regional Mexican singer Natanael Cano and other artists following a death threat from a drug cartel in northern Mexico. Prosecutors confirmed the offer of protection to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, images of a banner threatening Cano, known for his corridos music—a genre often associated with drug cartel violence—began circulating on social media. The banner also targeted other artists in the Sonora region.
The message appeared to be from the “Jalisco Matasalas” group, a faction within the Sinaloa cartel’s “Chapitos” group, which has caused chaos in northern Mexico amidst an ongoing violent power struggle. The gang accused the singers of financially supporting a rival group, the “Salazares.”
“This is your final warning. Cut the nonsense and mind your own business,” the banner stated. “If you don’t heed this warning, you’ll be shot.”
The Sonoran Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Tuesday that the threatening banner was discovered hanging from a school, prompting an investigation. Prosecutor’s spokesperson Allan de la Rosa stated that the artists have been offered protection to prevent any potential attacks related to the threat but did not provide further details on the protection measures.
Cano’s team has not yet commented on the situation.
Corridos, a genre rooted in northern Mexico, has long been associated with the drug trade, depicting the violent realities of life under cartel influence. The genre has seen a revival, with younger artists like Cano and Peso Pluma blending it with contemporary sounds, including trap music.
Mexican music streaming has surged 400% over the past five years, with Peso Pluma surpassing Taylor Swift in streams on YouTube in 2023. However, such artists have faced both criticism from authorities and threats from criminal groups.
In 2023, Peso Pluma was forced to cancel a concert in Tijuana after receiving threats from a rival faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. The city later banned the performance of narcocorridos to protect youth from the violence often depicted in the music.
Cano’s threat comes amid rising violence in Sinaloa and other northern states, sparked by the kidnapping and capture of drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leading to a violent clash between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, including the one behind the threats against Cano.
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