Editorial – East vs. West Coast rappers aren’t the only musicians with beef

With the recent news of the murder of Mexican banda singer Sergio Vega, I was exposed to a whole new lesson in music. Like great examples of West Coast/East Coast rap rivalries (such as Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls), some musicians in the Mexican music scene are constantly looking over their shoulders.

“Narcocorridos” are ballads that are sung as a Mexican music tradition. Vega, along with many other musicians of the “grupero” (Mexican folk) genre,  sing about and glorify the lives of drug dealers, often making these musicians targets to rival gangs. Which leads us to the way Vega was killed.

According to HuffingtonPost.com, Vega was driving to a gig on June 26 when a truck pulled up beside him and shot at him. Vega lost control of his car because of his injuries and crashed, at which point the assailants pulled over and shot him at close range (some sources say up to 30 times) to finish him off. There is no proof yet that this murder was the work of the rivals of a drug gang that Vega may have praised in one of his songs. It certainly is a rational theory because merely hours prior, he was denying rumors of his death. Not to mention the singer put himself at risk with the type of music he was known for.

Though an incredibly sad story, I can’t help but be intrigued by this! Upon hearing news of his death and reading the news reports, I was exposed to this genre that I had never heard of. Here in America, I’m used to Americanized individuals making fun of ranchera and banda music. You’ve heard it. That music that features blaring horns, accordions and a bouncy beat. Who knew that music that sounded so upbeat could be so dark? Especially if you’re not familiar with the genre or language. I’ve been acquainted with the Spanish language, but not enough to really understand lyrics sung at a “normal” pace (I usually have to ask people to slow down if they are speaking to me in Spanish).

From rappers like the aforementioned to the likes of Frank Sinatra and his supposed ties to organized crime to the now seventh death of a singer in the grupero genre to be murdered in three years, it is apparent that some musicians aren’t necessarily living “the dream.” Sinatra was plagued by pestering FBI reports against him while others were busy dodging bullets.

I guess it just goes to show that no matter what the genre, there will always be someone out there attracting drama! Musicians who put their lives in the middle of real life issues do so at their own risk; and some pay the price.