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The Origin of Corridos Tumbados, the Mexican Music Genre Taking the World by Storm
Peso Pluma has become one of the biggest superstars in the world. At just 24 years of age, he has brought the sounds of Mexican regional music to the whole globe; a style that artists such as Christian Nodal and Natanael Cano, among others, have been experimenting with for a couple of years now.
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However, Natanael Cano and Peso Pluma have gone a step further and taken a deep dive into one of the subgenres of this musical style: the corridos tumbados. So, what exactly is this music style?
The Origin of the Corrido
The corridos are a Mexican musical genre that tells the tales of bandits, heroes, traitors, and icons instead of romantic stories. The origin of these corridos dates back to the Independence era, but they became popular during the Mexican Revolution, especially in rural areas.
In the following years, the corridos spread to the North and were influenced by the region’s sound, developing its unique variant. Eventually, it even spread as far as the United States.
What Are Corridos Tumbados?
Between the 2010s and 2020s, corridos tumbados emerged as the traditional corridos and Mexican Regional music began to blend with trap and hip-hop. It is believed that they originated along the US-Mexican border, with its epicenter being in Los Angeles, California.
The lyrics of this new style narrate the experiences of living in dangerous urban areas, and the singer’s stories of how they achieved wealth and success. These raw, gritty lyrics can be sung, recited, or even danced out, accompanied by fast-paced guitars.
Corridos Tumbados have skyrocketed on social media, given that it is a fairly recent genre, and platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have helped artists such as Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano achieve global fame.
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Cano is considered the forerunner of the style thanks to his 2019 album, ‘Corridos Tumbados,’ which he released when he was just 18 years old and laid the foundations of this subgenre.
By the beginning of 2023, the corridos tumbados achieved international recognition due to the positioning of artists such as Peso Pluma, Junior H, and groups such as Eslabón Armado and Yahritza y su Esencia.
Many artists began their careers independently, spreading their music through social media. After massive popularity and fan following, they were later signed by traditional record labels.
Are Corridos Tumbados Connected to the Narcocorridos?
Despite its success, the new subgenre has been criticized for having close ties to narcocorridos, which are songs that tell the story of cartel leaders and drug traffickers. This genre has been a success in Mexico for over 100 years.
The corridos tumbados have also been lambasted for promoting violence, as the lyrics incorporate language related to violent acts, weapons, and explicit content. Even the successful Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano have mentioned cartel leaders such as Chapo Guzmán in their songs, leading some people to believe that the drug dealers have paid the singers to make songs about them.
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