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A narcocorrido is a kind of Mexican music which evolved out of folk corridos, using dance-able, accordion-based polka as a rhythmic base. Narcocorridos have been compared to gangsta rap in their lyrical subjects. Corridos have long described bandits and other criminals, as well as illegal immigrants to the United States, and the poor and destitute, but the focus on drug smugglers is a relatively recent phenomenon. Narcocorrido lyrics refer to particular events, and even include real dates and places. The lyrics tend to speak approvingly of the criminal activities.
Many companies, regions and individuals have banned, or sought to ban, narcocorridos. These include, voluntarily, radio stations in Baja California; representative Casio Carlos Narváez explained that radio executives did not want to make "people who break the laws of our country into heroes and examples". President of Mexico Vicente Fox has also proposed banning narcocorridos.
The band Los Tigres del Norte, who are also known for playing rock and roll, have long been the most well-known exponent of narcocorrido. Their earliest hits popularized the style in the early 1970s.
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