Grupo Firme Defies Narcocorrido Veto and Sings Ballad for the Sinaloa Cartel in Baja California Sur

The popular regional-Mexican band Grupo Firme ignited controversy yet again during a live performance on November 22, defying prior warnings by interpreting the narcocorrido "Se fue la Pantera," a song that references a member of the Sinaloa Cartel in the capital of Baja California Sur.

The concert, held in La Paz, came just fifteen days after a similar incident in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, where the group had been asked by an audience member to perform the same track. Vocalist Eduin Caz opened the moment live on-stage by raising the question to authorities: "Officer, are we allowed to sing La Pantera here? They say we can't and normally I'd respect that... but too late now. If they shut us down, then whatever!"according to spectator footage.

Though Baja California Sur does not have a specific law banning narcocorrido performances, the band's recitation of "Se fue la Pantera" has triggered concerns over potential apología del delito (glorification of crime) an offence under broader criminal statutes. Authorities in other states such as Chihuahua have threatened sanctions for similar acts: in that jurisdiction, performing certain narcocorridos can result in heavy fines or even show cancellations.

In La Paz, the atmosphere grew electric when a fan in the audience held up a sign that read "Aquí traigo pa la Pantera," prompting boos and whistles from parts of the crowd when the band began the lyrics referencing Jesús Esteban Espinoza Velázquez, alias "El Pantera," allegedly a Sinaloa cartel operator.

Despite the absence of a formal ban in BCS, authorities had advised the group not to perform the track. The decision to defy that advice places Grupo Firme once again at the center of the ongoing debate about the role of narcocorridos in Mexican popular culture. By executing the performance anyway, the band has openly challenged the line between artistic expression and criminal glorification.

The incident arrives amidst mounting scrutiny of the band's discography versus their public statements. Earlier this year, Grupo Firme declared that their latest album would not include narcocorridos and that the group was more focused on themes of love and heartbreak. Yet their catalogue still includes songs like "Se fue la Pantera," "Caro Quintero" and "El Ratón," which directly reference figures linked to organized crime. Critics consider the live performance a contradiction of their previously stated stance.

In response to the Baja California Sur show, local media are asking whether the band may face investigations or administrative sanctions, even though no explicit local prohibition exists. The broader implication is a spotlight on how Mexican states differ in regulating public performance of songs that reference or valorize cartel activity. For Grupo Firme, the decision to go ahead highlights not only their commercial power but also their willingness to push back against cultural and regulatory constraints.

Fans and critics alike took to social media to record and share the moment: one video clip shows Eduin, microphone in hand, saying, "we are making history. Nobody keeps quiet here," before launching into the track. Another shows the singer halting mid-song when an official from event security attempted to intervene, gesturing for them to stop.

For the band's management, the calculus is evident: provocation equals attention. The move generates streams, headlines and engagement, at the risk of blowing up into full regulatory or reputational costs. Legal experts suggest that if Grupo Firme's performance in Chihuahua or another regulated jurisdiction repeats, fines could reach the tens of thousands of pesos, or promoters could face suspensions.