Decoding the Narco-Culture in 'El 24'
The song 'El 24' by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga is a corrido, a traditional Mexican music genre that often tells a story, frequently about the lives of people involved in the drug trade. The lyrics introduce us to a character known as 'El 24,' a nickname that could imply a ranking or a code name within a criminal organization. The mention of 'Tecate,' a city in Baja California, Mexico, and the reference to being born in 'la sierra' (the mountains), a common area for drug cultivation, further sets the scene in the world of narcotrafficking.
The song's protagonist speaks of his importance among his peers and his readiness to face death, a common theme in narcocorridos that reflects the dangerous lifestyle of drug traffickers. The request for norteño music, a genre closely associated with corridos, along with substances like 'perico' (slang for cocaine) and alcohol, paints a picture of celebration and excess often glorified in this subculture. The lyrics also touch on themes of loyalty and hierarchy within the criminal organization, indicating a structured and united group.
While the song does not explicitly condemn or glorify the lifestyle it describes, it provides a window into the narco-culture that has influenced many aspects of Mexican society and music. Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, known for their banda music—a genre featuring wind instruments, percussion, and sometimes string instruments—often incorporates stories and themes that resonate with their audience, including the complex and controversial world of narcocorridos.
