Who Listens to Narcocorridos, Why? and What effects do Narcocorridos have on the listeners?

Narcocorridos are popular with the immigrant Hispanic communities near the border with Mexico and the rural population of Mexico's Northern states (Simonett, 2001). Narcocorridos have become a way for Hispanics to feel proud of their heritage. In the 1980s and 1990s, assimilation was the primary goal of U.S. immigration policy, but it has changed to multiculturalism (Simonett, 2001). Hispanics are now claiming the right to keep their own identity and culture. Narcocorridos are part of the Hispanic culture and have become embraced by the people. There is a sense of Latino pride towards Narcocorridos, "Proud of their Mexican working-class roots, young immigrants as well as second-and even third-generation Mexican Americans embraced the trend"  (Simonett, 2001). Narcocorridos are addressed towards Mexican (Spanish speaking) audiences and are successful because of their Mexicanness (Simonett, 2001). Narcocorridos encouraged young people of Mexican origin to reaffirm and express their cultural loyalty. Pride in Mexican culture has propelled the Narcocorrido's sound to all-time high popularity within the Hispanic community. Besides pride in Mexican culture, the content of the Narcocorridos makes people listen to them as well. 

Many people living in Northern Mexico or the immigrant communities of the United States are poor. People are always hoping to one day becoming wealthy. Narcocorridos are often about poor people who become rich and powerful thanks to the Narco life. Young Mexican and Hispanic audiences who usually do not have a path to bettering their lives start to see the Narco life as "a gratifying shortcut or a magical path to personal empowerment" (Simonett, 2001, Pg.321). They can glorify the narco lifestyle even if they are not part of the Narco world. Narcocorridos show the Narcos as brave men who carry their weaponry for personal enrichment and empowerment. The lavish lifestyle of the Narco is often the focal point of the Narcocorridos and Narcoculute.

Consequently, it is no wonder that the stories of rags to riches make young Hispanic people listen to them. Even if they never intend to be a Narco, the luxury life of the Narco is enticing. For those young, poor people who do not have the opportunity to be successful in a legitimate way, crime becomes the only way to succeed (Simonett, 2001, Pg.321). The Narco life is dangerous, but many young, poor Mexicans feel that they have nothing to lose besides a life of hardship and agony. Consequently, those who are not desperate enough to become narcos continue to listen to narcocorridos, dreaming of the lavish lifestyle that could be theirs, as the Narcocorridos often say. Narcocorridos have become a source of cultural pride for young Mexicans and attract them to the words and luxury in the Narcocorridos. 

Los Tigres Del Norte Concert

Effects on the Listeners

Narcocorridos influence many young, poor Mexicans and Mexican Americans to glorify Narco's life (Simonett, 2001, Pg.321). Narcocorridos have the power to make the life of the Narco tempting to those who are poor and are tired of a hard life. They see the Narco life as a shortcut to money and power. Cartels are using propaganda like the Narcocorrido to recruit young people into the Cartels. Children as young as 11 years old have been recruited by the Cartels (Bechkhunse, 2013). These children and young people are given basic training and are seen as expendable. The bosses send them on suicidal attacks against the better-trained military (Bechkhunse, 2013). A young boy aged 15 nicknamed "El Pochis" was recently arrested by the Mexican Military. El Pochis said he started working for the Beltran Leyva Cartel when he was 11 and killed so many people he lost count (Bechkhunse, 2013). The problem seems to be that Narcoculture, like narcocorridos, often portrays the Narco life as a better alternative to being poor with no opportunities. They do not mention the dangers of being a Narco. Young, poor people get attracted to the stories they hear in the Narcocorridos, and they also want to be one of those stories of a poor man who becomes a wealthy Cartel boss. The Narcocorrido's danger is that it makes many young people dream of having a life as a Narco and making it acceptable.  Young people will instead try to be a Narco than try to get an education. The violence will increase in Mexico and even in the United States, with more people joining the Cartels in the drug war against the government.