Learn Spanish and Go

Los Narcocorridos - Narcocorridos (Drug Ballads)

Jul 15, 2025
Explore the captivating world of narcocorridos, narrative songs that delve into drug trafficking and organized crime. Discover how this genre intertwines with Mexico's social and political landscape, and its rich history dating back to the Mexican Revolution. The hosts discuss the ethical dilemmas posed by these tales, the evolving themes from banditry to modern-day narcotics, and whether such music glorifies or reflects societal issues. Iconic tracks like "Camelia la Tejana" and "Jefe de Jefes" are highlighted as quintessential examples.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Narcocorridos As Regional Music

  • Narcocorridos are a subgenre of regional Mexican music that narrate drug-trafficking lives and stories.
  • They span multiple musical styles (banda, norteño, corrido) but share themes about narcotics and criminals.
INSIGHT

Distinctive Sound Signature

  • Instrumentation like accordion and trumpet plus nasal vocal styles create a recognizable narcocorrido sound.
  • Jimmy noted different bands sounded nearly identical due to shared rhythm, compás, and vocal styling.
INSIGHT

Songs As Promotion And Controversy

  • Narcocorridos grew more controversial as listeners connect songs to real cartel figures and events.
  • Paying bands to produce songs becomes a form of reputation-building or promotion for powerful traffickers.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app