The Latin Equivalent of Gangster Rap

Often referred to as the 'Balladeer of Mexico's Drug Wars', Alfredo Rios, aka El Komander, is no stranger to controversy. Decked out in flashy cowboy outfits for his live shows, his chosen musical style Narcocorridos, a subgenre of the traditional folk music of Northern Mexico that focuses on the gritty reality of drug smuggling and Mexico's violent revolutionary history, is increasingly under fire for its glorification of the criminal lifestyle.

Yet Rios sings of danger and adventure, imbuing his Banda songs with a Robin Hood-esque mystique that fans throughout the latin-speaking world just can't get enough of, especially considering the corruption they face on both sides of the law. El Komander is an anti-hero with a story to tell.