Peso Pluma revives controversy over alleged links to organized crime naming Grupo Cartel as his favorite band

Mexican artist Peso Pluma has once again found himself in the midst of controversy after publicly naming Grupo Cartel as his favorite band during a recent appearance on the podcast Agushto Papa.

Peso Pluma's decision to name this band, known for its narcocorridos, revived controversies swirling around some of his songs where he mentions alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel. The singer has previously faced allegations of connections to organized crime, his latest statement only intensifying speculation and public scrutiny.

Narcocorridos and Peso Pluma's Musical Preferences

Grupo Cartel, the band Peso Pluma has said is his favorite at the moment, is infamous for songs like "Desde la Prisión 19," "Aquí Sigue El 19," "Soy Don Joaquín Guzmán," "El de la Defender Blanca," and "Objetivo Nacional," all of them narcocorridos. Some of band's most popular songs on streaming platforms like Spotify include references to real-life figures from the Sinaloa Cartel, including Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Narcocorridos is a subgenre of Mexican corridos (folk songs) that focus on drug cartels, their leaders, and their violent exploits.

This isn't Peso Pluma's first association with organized crime. In 2023, the singer received death threats that led to the cancellation of a planned concert in Tijuana, Baja California. While the singer has not publicly confirmed any connections to the cartels, his choice of music and the thematic content of his songs have led many to speculate about his associations.

The perception was intensified last year when banners appeared throughout Tijuana warning him against performing, with death threats allegedly coming from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The CJNG reportedly issued these threats due to Peso Pluma's perceived ties to their rivals, the Sinaloa Cartel.

Peso Pluma's controversial songs

In "Igualito a mi apá," la Doble P collaborated with Fuerza Régida, and while no specific names are mentioned in the song, it is believed to reference Los Chapitos, the faction led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. One of his most controversial tracks, "El Azul," was composed with Junior H and discusses the Sinaloan drug lord "Chapo" Guzmán.

Other narcocorridos about the Sinaloa Cartel include "El Gavilán" and "Siempre Pendientes," both of which also feature Luis R. Conriquez. These songs mention Joaquín Guzmán Loera and further contribute to the themes surrounding the infamous cartel and its leaders.

"Tamaulipas" is not available on digital platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. However, it can be listened to on YouTube, where it has garnered millions of views. In this track, Peso Pluma sings about an operator from the Gulf Cartel.

The lyrics include lines like, "Con una Barbie siempre a mi lado, soy de palabra y que les quede claro. El cielo ya está pintado, un 19 aquí reportando," which are believed to reference José Alberto García Vilano, also known as "La Kena" or "Ciclón 19." These lines depict a figure associated with the cartel, using coded language typical of narcocorridos to convey respect and notoriety within the criminal world.

The alleged relationship between Peso Pluma and figures of the Sinaloa Cartel was part of the declarations that the notorious Mini Lic, El Chapo's godson, made during an interview with Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández, who specializes in organized crime.

The criticism regarding those comments, the songs, the death threats, and other incidents had calmed down in the last few months. Now Peso Pluma has revived them again.