It was a huge day for Música Mexicana and the enterprise of its global appeal. As Mexican artist Peso Pluma took for a moment the stage of the MTV Video Music Awards this week, he became the first artist of the genre to perform at the popular American awards show.
She performed her song “Lady Gaga”, resonating with the crowd, in an engaging scene before a full theater broadcast on television. The unique sound blended the traditional with the new, in a way that was still distinctly Mexican.
The violin orchestra helped Paso Pluma capture the attention of fans. But the demonstration also caught the attention of a cartel in Mexico.
Spanish-language news outlets quickly captured a photo of a banner that hung over a bridge in the La Isla neighborhood in Tijuana, Mexico. The banner, in red letters in Spanish, threatened the artist, whose real name is Hassan Emilio Cabande Laiza.
The banner used his stage name and translated into English saying, “This goes to Peso Pluma, avoid presenting yourself on October 14th as it will be your last show due to your disrespect and loose tongue – You show up and we’re leaving.” Beat the crap out of you.”
The banner was signed “CJNG”, an acronym for Jalisco New Generation Cartel. According to, the cartel devotes its work to drug and arms trafficking Outlet Tiktikas,
The threats raised concerns among city leaders that an event with the artist in their city could lead to major violence.
The mayor of the border city of Tijuana, Montserrat Caballero, revealed that an investigation had been launched by the prosecutor’s office in Mexico ahead of 24-year-old Peso Pluma’s scheduled show in October.
Caballero said, “It is up to me to protect the citizens of Tijuana and so in the next few days we will decide whether the concert will take place or not.”
Representatives for the artist did not immediately comment publicly on the threats.
Several US tour dates were postponed or cancelled. As per ticket master — but it was unclear whether these cancellations were due to any security concerns in the US, or whether US officials were working with Mexican authorities after receiving threats.
Caballero said, “Singers like Peso Pluma apologize for causing offense, so there are some groups that get upset.”