Part 2/14:
The genesis of cartel propaganda can be traced back to the rise of narco corridos, a genre of music that romanticized and mythologized drug lords and cartel lore. Artists like Chelino Sanchez, from Kulyakan, became symbols of this movement. Sanchez’s legendary final concert in Kulakan, where he was handed a note—allegedly a death threat—before being murdered, exemplifies the dangerous intersection of music and cartel influence. His performances, which became memes for their absurd seriousness in recounting violent scenarios, highlight how cartel-supported narratives became embedded in Mexican culture.