Texto originalmente publicado el 13 de Junio del 2018 en @Medium
In a year of presidential elections, political friction has increased in a country already battling with national security and government corruption; Illegal immigration has also become a major social concern as the U.S. current president runs a permanent public campaign of vulgar depictions of racist nature against latino-related immigrants.
Mexico has fallen into an abyss of crime and violence for the past 20 years. Drug trafficking has become not only a business but also a culture that slowly is taking part in a society that reflects its poor government and a lack of authority to deal with this issue.
Considered by international organizations as an emerging global power and being the eighth most visited country in the world*, (35M international arrivals in 2016) Mexico also had the most murders on record in 2017* (29,158 homicides) and violence related to organized crime has spread to the highly profitable tourist destinations like the Mayan Riviera, Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Los Cabos. The U.S. State Department issued a strict travel advisory to five of its states and considers the urban hazards on the same level as countries like Syria.
Merely as a work of self-expression and artistic approach, the next playlist is more than adequate for Mexico’s current political and social zeitgeist:
“La Ley de Plomo” by Brujería
“Plata o plomo” (cash or lead) is a bleak motto used by criminals and drug traffickers to intimidate and control opposite gangs and blackmailed civilians. The threat of getting shot if an opponent doesn’t comply is a day-by-day ordeal for Mexican states like Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Michoacán and Sinaloa, whose criminal activities like kidnapping and homicides related to drug cartels have exponentially increased.
“Brujería”(Witchcraft) is a cult-status metal band from Los Angeles, California whose lyrics are based on narc culture and actual investigations around magico-religious activities from drug cartels.
“Despedazando Muertos” by Asesino
“Butchering Corpses” is literally a common activity for “sicarios” (hitmen) in an imminent attempt to frighten and gain dominance and territory through horror and shock over opposite gangs or government authorities. Beheadings, hangings, severing extremities and dissolving bodies in acid are just some of the savage actions performed by criminals with brutal sadistic tendencies who operate under drug lords’ orders.
Asesino is an LA-based Deathgrind side-project of revered musicians Dino Cazares (Fear Factory, Divine Heresy) and Tony Campos (Static-X, Ministry) whose lyrics are based on violence, murder, perversion and death.
“Ley” by La Flor del Lingo
Not as deadly as drug wars but more threatening and harmful for society is political corruption. The misuse of government power in favor of personal wealth and institutional kleptocracy harms civil society in economic and cultural terms, creating insufficient provision of public services, undermining political values and consummating distrust in institutions. Mexico ranks #123 out of 176 countries in Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception.
La Flor del Lingo is a mexican rapcore band that was part of an important cultural movement emerged in the state of Monterrey in the mid-90’s called “Avanzada Regia”; the band’s lyrics are based on urban culture and government oppression.
“Frijolero” by Molotov
Putting aside the ideologic and sociologic controversies of the subject matter, racism has several political and institutional concerns that deteriorate international laws and basic human rights. Illegal immigration of Mexicans crossing the southern border of the United States is a major issue for both countries that deal with economic and cultural impacts that include heavily media-covered allegations and poor diplomacy between the political actors involved.
“Frijolero” (Beaner) is a derogative stereotype that refers to illegal Mexican US-residents and its distinctive lifestyle and culture, beans being part of the basic diet for Mexicans.
Once a radical and antagonistic rap/rock spanglish act, Mexican band Molotov propelled to mainstream success during the early 2000’s and became one of the most recognized bands outside the country along bands like Maná and Café Tacvba.
“Seis años” by Óscar Chávez
After former president Porfirio Díaz stayed in office for more than 30 years, provoking mass hysteria and (among other causes) starting what we know as the Mexican Revolution, -perhaps the country’s most important sociopolitical event of the 20th century- reelection was prohibited and changed to a four-year term by the constitution, later modified to a six-year term of office.
Mexico has fallen victim to political parties who promote the vote for their candidates (every six years) through the massification of false statements, demagogic speeches, collective confusion and cult of personality that inevitably repercuss in inexperienced politicians and incompetent heads of state running the country.
Óscar Chávez is a left-wing Mexican folk musician famous for his prolific four-decade Nueva-Trova discography. A soap-opera and movie actor as well, his lyrics deal with political and cultural issues.
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- Some data was taken from here
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