Corridos Tumbados, often referred to as trap corridos, has become one of the fastest-growing genres in Mexican music. In fact, over the past five years, global consumption of corridos has surged by 413%, with a 42% increase just last year .
Natanael Cano, who's a key figure in this movement, described it to the LA Times as "regional Mexican like the one you, or, I don’t know, your parents used to listen to; but with a younger seasoning, a younger regional Mexican."
So, what is it about this genre that draws in fans both in Mexico and around the world?
In this guide, I want to take a look at the origins, evolution, and impact of Corridos Tumbados, and try to shed some light on how this modern twist on traditional music has struck a chord with audiences everywhere.
The Origins of Corridos Tumbados
To really get a feel for what Corridos Tumbados is all about, it helps to understand the evolution of Mexican music as a whole. For years, regional Mexican music has dominated the scene, and in recent years, genres like Banda and Mariachi have seen a big surge in popularity, thanks to artists like Banda MS and Vicente Fernández.
However, there’s more to Mexican music than 'regional' genres.
As the name suggests, Corridos Tumbados is a spin-off from the corrido sub-genre.
So, where did corridos come from?
Corridos are basically Mexican narrative ballads that have been sung for over a century. From a traditional standpoint, they tell stories of heroes, outlaws, and everyday struggles. They became popular during the Mexican Revolution (1910–1917) as a way to narrate battles and notable events in songs.
Over the 20th century, corridos began including norteño music (which features instruments like accordions and bajo sexto guitars) and continued to grow in popularity by recounting tales of bandits and drug traffickers.
By the late 20th century, narcocorridos (drug ballads) emerged, with groups like Los Tigres del Norte and Los Tucanes de Tijuana singing epic stories about real-life cartel figures. These songs were thematically gritty and often controversial, though they resonated with listeners by giving a voice to the streets and the anti-establishment attitude in Mexican culture.
Emergence of Corridos Tumbados (Trap Corridos)
Around the late 2010s, a new generation of artists began mixing traditional corridos with hip-hop and trap music influences , creating what is now called corridos tumbados , or trap corridos.
The term tumbado in Spanish literally means "knocked down" or "lying down," but in Mexican street slang it implies something with a cool, rebellious style , such as a lowrider. 'Tumbados' was meant to capture the genre’s attitude. As one music journalist noted, corrido tumbado became an identity label for young people on both sides of the Mexico–US border who love the urban twist on regional music.
This fusion was born organically.
Natanael Cano, a young artist from Sonora, Mexico, grew up idolizing corrido singers like Ariel Camacho (known for the sierreño style of two guitars and a tuba).
In 2018, Cano started releasing songs that sounded like classic guitar-based corridos but with a modern twist. His first hit was “El de los Lentes Gucci,” a corrido that already hinted at youthful, trap-influenced swagger.
After moving to Los Angeles and signing with the independent label Rancho Humilde, Cano and his collaborators began blending corrido storytelling with hip-hop beats. According to Danny Félix , a guitarist-producer who worked with Cano, one key studio moment was when “we proposed changing the chords of a song from major to minor. That’s where the genre was born… it happened spontaneously.”
The “tumbado” style also meant embracing hip-hop elements in the music and lyrics . In traditional corridos, the rhythm might be a polka or waltz beat, while in corridos tumbados, you might hear a trap-style beat or rap-like flows in the vocals.
Billboard described corridos tumbados as “a variant of the traditional corrido that incorporates the sensibility of hip-hop both musically (with rap verses and chants) and thematically.”
This means the singers sometimes rap or use urban slang, and the songs talk about things that rap songs might cover, not just folk hero stories. Themes include street life, violence, partying, sex, and drug use , often with blunt and explicit lyrics.
Most Popular Corridos Tumbados Artists
While Cano is certainly one of the best-known artists in the corridos tumbados scene, there are plenty of other corrido artists that have become pioneers of this sub-genre.
Here are a few notable artists I recommend exploring:
Junior H (Antonio Herrera Pérez)
Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Antonio "Junior H" Herrera Pérez had music running through his veins from a young age. His journey into the world of music wasn’t easy, though.
As a high school student, Junior H worked a job as a cook at a fast-food restaurant. During his shifts and in his free time, he taught himself to play both the guitar and the accordion. It was these self-taught skills that laid the foundation for his future career.
His career skyrocketed with melancholic, trap-infused corridos, which gave the genre a new level of emotional depth and relatability. Junior H’s albums, including “Mi Vida En Un Cigarro” (2019), have amassed hundreds of millions of streams, and his smooth Auto-Tuned vocals combined with acoustic guitar-based arrangements gave the genre a unique feel.
He recorded “Soy El Diablo (Remix)” with Natanael Cano as well, which helped further cement his place at the top of the genre.
Peso Pluma (Hakim Monáe Pérez)
Born on June 15, 1999, in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, known professionally as Peso Pluma, rapidly ascended to prominence in the Latin music scene.
Growing up in Guadalajara, he began playing the guitar at age 15 by watching tutorials on YouTube. This self-taught approach laid the foundation for his unique musical style, which blends traditional sierreño corridos with elements of Latin urban music, including trap and reggaeton.
Peso Pluma's career took off with the release of his debut studio album, "Ah y Qué?" , in April 2020 under the label El Cartel de los Ángeles. He followed up with "Efectos Secundarios" in March 2021, which featured tracks like "Con Dinero Baila el Perro" and "Lo Que Me Das". In April 2022, he released the EP "Sembrando" , which included the single "Sembrando".
One of the biggest milestones in Peso Pluma's career was his collaboration with Natanael Cano and Gabito Ballesteros on the track "AMG" in early 2022. The song's popularity on TikTok propelled it onto the Billboard Hot 100, marking Peso Pluma's entry into the U.S. mainstream market.
Eslabón Armado
Formed in 2017 in Patterson, California, Eslabón Armado is an ensemble made up of brothers Pedro Tovar (lead vocals, twelve-string guitar) and Brian Tovar (bass), alongside Ulises González (acoustic guitar) and Damián Pacheco (twelve-string guitar).
The Tovar brothers, alongside childhood friend Gabriel Hidalgo, began by exploring sierreño music and other regional Mexican styles like norteño. They gained attention through live performance videos on YouTube and TikTok, which eventually led them to a contract with DEL Records. Their debut EP, "Navegando y Flotando" , was released in October 2019.
In March 2023, they released "Ella Baila Sola" with Peso Pluma, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
The Controversy Behind the Genre
Like many emerging urban music styles, corridos tumbados has stirred its fair share of debate.
If you look throughout history, it's pretty common that new music genres often face scrutiny. For instance, the rise of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s was met with criticism from conservative groups who viewed it as a threat to societal norms.
Similarly, the emergence of rap and hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s faced backlash due to their raw portrayal of urban life and perceived promotion of violence.
These genres, much like corridos tumbados today, were seen as reflections of societal issues that some preferred to overlook.
In May 2023, the resort city of Cancún, Mexico, made headlines by banning live performances of corridos tumbados. Local authorities cited concerns that these genres "promote violence and crime."
The decision led to the cancellation of a concert by El Komander , a prominent figure in the narcocorrido scene, just a day before it was scheduled. The city's general secretary, Jorge Aguilar Osorio, stated that public events should not endorse violence, referencing past incidents at such concerts.
The content of corridos tumbados often delves into themes of drug trafficking, violence, and the narcoculture. In a nation grappling with thousands of violent deaths, according to official data, these lyrics resonate deeply but also raise ethical questions. While some argue that the music mirrors harsh realities, others feel it glamorizes a culture of violence.
The controversy isn't new. For decades, narcocorridos have faced bans in various Mexican states. Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa have imposed restrictions, citing concerns over promoting criminal behavior. In 2017, the legendary group Los Tigres del Norte was fined for performing narcocorridos in Chihuahua .
The debate here exemplifies the broader challenge of balancing artistic freedom with social responsibility.
While artists should have the right to depict authentic narratives and connect with their audience, communities and governments must also find ways to mitigate content they believe could incite harm.
The Future of Corridos Tumbados
From its roots in the classic corrido tradition to its transformation under the influence of hip-hop and trap, this genre has broken boundaries and sparked a movement that is now reaching listeners worldwide.
Just looking at the success of artists like Natanael Cano, Peso Pluma, and Eslabón Armado, we can see how corridos tumbados has redefined regional Mexican music and given rise to a new form of storytelling for today’s youth.
As corridos tumbados continues to evolve and controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: this genre is here to stay, and its influence on both Mexican and global music will only grow in the years to come.
