Junior H to Proceed with Tijuana Concert Despite Reported Cartel Threat
Tijuana, Mexico – Despite a reported threat from a drug cartel, Junior H intends to perform at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana on November 8, according to a statement provided to Billboard. The decision comes amid heightened security concerns for regional Mexican artists performing in cartel-dominated areas.
The threat against Junior H mirrors a pattern of intimidation tactics targeting musicians with ties to narcocorridos, songs that often glorify drug trafficking. Similar warnings prompted Grupo Firme to cancel a performance in Mazatlán, Sinaloa earlier this year, and led Peso Pluma to cancel a Tijuana show in August. The tijuana municipal government has pledged “full security” for Junior H should he proceed with the concert.
Junior H has recently adjusted his performances, notably omitting collaborations with artists like Peso Pluma on songs with explicit cartel references, such as “El Azul,” during a Coachella performance in april. He is currently on his $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour across the United States, with a scheduled performance in Charlotte tomorrow and a planned conclusion at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in early November.
The situation highlights the ongoing influence of cartels in the regional Mexican music scene and the risks faced by artists navigating the genre’s complex relationship with organized crime. Several years ago, Peso Pluma was also forced to cancel Tijuana shows following similar threats attributed to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación.
