Peso Pluma threatened by Mexican cartel ahead of Tijuana concert: 'It will be your last show'
A Mexican cartel has threatened recording artist Peso Pluma ahead of his debut at the MTV Video Music Awards and his Oct. 14 concert at Caliente Stadium in Tijuana, Mexico.
A banner threatening the 24-year-old Mexican singer, whose real name is Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, was posted on a bridge in the border town of Tijuana on Tuesday. It was signed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, reported The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
"This goes to Peso Pluma, refrain from presenting yourself on October 14 because it will be your last show due to your disrespect and loose tongue, you show up and we are going to (break you)," the banner said.
Pluma, who performed at the VMA's on Tuesday night, has not commented on the threat. Several of his upcoming shows have been postponed or canceled, though it's unclear whether that's because of the threats.
Peso Pluma’s representatives did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment Wednesday.
Peso Pluma postpones several upcoming concerts
Pluma's concert at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was set for Thursday has been postponed "due to unforeseen circumstances," the venue posted online and on social media on Tuesday.
Pluma’s show at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois, on Friday was also postponed along with Saturday’s show in Indianapolis.
Pluma's official site lists his next show in Reno, Nevada, on Sept. 28.
Cartel threatened band in February
Grupo Arriesgado, a narcocorrido band from the state of Sinaloa that sings about drug culture, was at a Tijuana mall signing autographs in February when men fired shots and forced the musicians to leave the city, reported the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the main rival of the Sinaloa Cartel, left a written message behind giving the band a few hours to get out of Tijuana or face death.
Grupo Arriesgado, which translates to "risky group," canceled its Tijuana concert and later scrapped its upcoming tour dates in the U.S.
Narcocorridos:Mexico’s ‘narcocorridos’ going mainstream. What’s behind their popularity explosion?
Peso Pluma's music
The narcocorrido genre, often accused of glorifying drug cartels, has been exploding in popularity, reaching global pop charts and filling arenas.
Pluma, who is from Zapopan, Jalisco, is one of the leaders of the new era of “corridos,” which are Mexican narrative songs, or ballads, that recount a heroic struggle.
Pluma, along with other artists, has been showing up in the Billboard, Spotify and Apple Music charts with a new subgenre called “corridos tumbados,” which translates to “knocked or lying down,” and the already-established “corridos bélicos,” which means “warlike."
Peso Pluma on Mexican music 'going global'
In the music video for his 2022 song with Raúl Vega, "El Bélicon," Pluma carries what appears to be a machine gun and sings lyrics like:
"I'm the one in charge here/Sports cars in my collection/Minimis, bazookas and Kalashnikovs/All my boys are ready/They like action."
"The corridos have always been very attacked and very demonized," Peso Pluma, told The Associated Press after performing at Coachella in April. "At the end of the day, it's music ― you see it in rap, you see it in hip hop, you see it in reggaeton."
On Tuesday night before the VMAs, Pluma told AP that "it feels great hearing all these people from different countries listening and singing my songs."
"It's just a dream, and I'm very grateful for the genre that I do. It's going global, it's breaking down barriers," he continued. "I'm just thankful for all the people that are supporting Mexican music."
Contributing: Diana Garcia, Mexico City correspondent and Karol Suárez, The Courier Journal
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