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The Roots of the Narcocorrido

Various Artists
The Roots of the Narcocorrido In Mexican folk music, the corrido is a story told in song. The songs are often about oppression, history, daily life for peasants, and other socially relevant topics. One form of corrido that developed during the late 19th century and lives on is the narcocorrido—ballads about drugs and contraband and their illegal trafficking. Professor James Nicolopulos of UC Berkeley traces the musical history of narcocorridos from the late 19th century to the 1970s. Drawing on recordings from the 1920s to the 1970s, Professor Nicolopulos presents musical stories of bandits, smugglers, drug traffickers, and victims on both sides of the Mexico-USA border.

Track Listing

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101
El Corrido de Heraclio Bernal (The Ballad of Heraclio Bernal) Dueto Adán and Eva with Mariachi Guadalajara 03:12
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102
Mariano Resendéz Timoteo Cantú y Jesús Maya 03:20
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103
Nieves Hernández Los Satélites 03:09
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104
Corrido de Mier (Ballad of Mier) Peña and Tijerina 03:01
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105
Los Tequileros Jesús Maya y Timoteo Cantú 02:54
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106
Contrabando De El Paso (Contraband of El Paso) [Pt. 1] Luís Hernández y Leonardo Sifuentes 02:49
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107
Contrabando De El Paso (Contraband of El Paso) [Pt. 2] Luís Hernández y Leonardo Sifuentes 02:54
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108
La Cocaína (Cocaine) Pilar Arcos 03:20
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109
La Marihuana (Marijuana) Trío Garnica-Ascencio 03:11
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110
Corrido de Juan García (The Ballad of Juan García) Los Pingüinos del Norte 02:53
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111
García y Zamarripa Los Hermanos Chavarría 03:19
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112
Los Pateros (The River Bandits) Los Alegres de Terán 02:35
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113
Corrido del Hampa (Ballad of the Underworld) [Pt. 1] Flores and Durán 02:48
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114
Corrido del Hampa (Ballad of the Underworld) [Pt. 2] Flores and Durán 02:48
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115
La Canela (Ballad of the Cinnamon) Los Alegres de Terán 03:18
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116
Por Morfina y Cocaína (Because of Morphine and Cocaine) [Pt. 1] Manuel C. Valdez and Juan González 03:03
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117
Por Morfina y Cocaína (Because of Morphine and Cocaine) [Pt. 2] Manuel C. Valdez and Juan González 03:01
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118
El Contrabandista (The Contraband Trafficker) [Pt. 1] Juan Gaytán and Frank Cantú 03:02
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119
El Contrabandista (The Contraband Trafficker) [Pt. 2] Juan Gaytán and Frank Cantú 03:04
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120
Carga Blanca (White Cargo) Los Cuatesones 03:03
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121
El Profugo (The Fugitive, Marijuana) Juan Gaytán and Frank Cantú 02:57
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122
Corrido de Juan Meneses (The Ballad of Juan Meneses) Las Hermanas Guerrero with Jimmy Morgan's Conjunto 02:29
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123
Francisco Martínez Juan Gaytán and Félix Solís 02:47
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124
Tragedia de Los Cargadores (Tragedy of the Drug Couriers) Frank Cantú with Conjunto Topo Chico 02:41
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125
La Cadena (The Chain Gang) Los Cuatesones 02:45
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126
El Rey De Pipa Roja (The King of the Red 18-Wheel Tanker) Los Monteños 03:21