Fuerza Regida faces threats as the regional Mexican music band gets ready for Cancún show

Once again, Fuerza Régida is facing threats from organized crime in Mexico. This time, the band of música regional mexicana has been explicitly threatened in the lead-up to their upcoming concert in Cancun on April 19th.

Two messages written in blankets—known by the locals as narcomantas—bearing threats allegedly from a criminal organization, were found in strategic locations across the city, igniting fears for the safety of the band members and raising concerns about the impact of organized crime on the Latin music industry.

Fuerza Régida, known for their distinctive style of corridos tumbados, is scheduled to perform at the Plaza de Toros in Cancún as part of their "Pero no te enamores" tour. This tour includes over 30 dates across Mexico and the United States, showcasing their popular tracks, which often reference notorious figures in the drug trade, including the sons of the imprisoned drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán.

A force in corridos tumbados

Hailing from San Bernardino, California, Fuerza Régida has carved a niche in the regional Mexican music scene with their innovative take on corridos tumbados—a modern urban twist on the traditional corrido. Formed in 2015, the group gained popularity through social media and YouTube, where their raw and authentic storytelling captured the hearts of a young audience. Their music frequently explores themes of street life, survival, and the realities of living in marginalized communities, often interwoven with the narrative fabric of drug cartels.

Led by vocalist and songwriter Jesús Ortíz Paz, Fuerza Régida has released several successful albums and singles, including "Radicamos en South Central" and "Sigo Chambeando," which have solidified their status as key figures in regional Mexican music.

The group managed a crossover to pop with Shakira last year, as they were the featuring artist in her song "El Jefe."

Silence as a reaction

The messages from organized crime—one near the Inmaculada Concepción church in region 228, and another in region 102—contained chilling messages. They warned that the April 19th performance would be the group's last and threatened their lives explicitly.

This situation mirrors an incident from October of the previous year, where Fuerza Regida was similarly threatened by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) prior to a show in Tijuana, which led to the last-minute cancellation of the concert.

This time, despite these dire warnings, there has been no official cancellation from Fuerza Regida or the concert organizers, Talento Líder, and tickets continue to be sold.