Mexican “Narcocorrido” Singer Killed in Jalisco Parking Lot
Zapopan, Jalisco (August 20, 2025), Ernesto Barajas, the lead vocalist of Enigma Norteño, was fatally shot late Tuesday in a parking lot in the western Mexican city of Zapopan, according to authorities.
Known for performing narcocorridos, a subgenre of regional music that glorifies powerful drug cartels, Barajas drew millions of monthly listeners on Spotify.
Police reports indicate that two assailants on a motorcycle approached Barajas and opened fire, killing him and another man, and injuring a woman in the leg.
Enigma Norteño’s catalog includes songs honoring Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), as well as tracks referencing “Los Chapitos”, the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Experts note that criminal organizations in Mexico often commission artists to create music that celebrates their deeds, a dynamic that places these musicians in dangerous crosshairs when cartel rivalries erupt.
Indeed, Mexican media have reported that Barajas had previously received threats from the CJNG.
Background & Broader Context
This tragic incident is not isolated. Earlier this year, five members of the band Fugitivo were murdered in Tamaulipas under similar circumstances.
Likewise, several other artists linked to the narcocorrido scene have fallen victim to cartel violence, an alarming trend between 2006 and 2008 focused on regional musicians.
Some Mexican states have gone as far as banning performances of narcocorridos to curb glorification of violent crime. In one notable case, a concert in Texcoco devolved into chaos when an artist refused to play these songs.
Meanwhile, critics argue that censorship alone may not solve the deeper societal issues fueling the genre’s popularity.