Los Tigres del Norte

Los Tigres del Norte was a Mexican band moved from Sinaloa, Mexico, to San Jose, California in 1968. Their music expressed their experience as Mexican immigrants, and became a long-lasting icon in the United States [1]. Their songs came from the “Norteño” genre, which is most commonly known for “corridos.” Corridos are characterized as being “like the gangster rap of Mexican music,” and reflect stories of violence and drug-trafficking across the Mexican-American border. They express the hardships endured by Mexicans as they made their way across the border into the United States [2].

Los Tigres del Norte were sometimes referred to as “The Beatles of Mexican music” [3]. They have been named as “the most influential regional Mexican group,” and “the genre's greatest statesmen.” One song that caught our attention is called “El Muro,” or “The Wall.” This is an extremely controversial song that is described as “highly outspoken.” It sings about the metaphorical wall that stands at the border between the United States and Mexico, and the tragic disparities experienced among minorities as they cross the "wall"[4].

Los Tigres del Norte played a great role in the Chicano Wave, and brought a new level of Mexican music to the United States. They have been recognized over several decades and distinguished for their exceptional music. They have sold millions of albums, topped the charts, and won several Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards [5]. Click here to watch the PBS Latin America USA chapter on Los Tigres del Norte for some more information!