The double standard in the music industry is striking when it comes to artists from Mexico and the US. While Mexican bands are being banned and their visas revoked for glorifying cartel culture, American rappers are getting richer off of similar lyrics.
In recent years, several Mexican artists have been stopped at the border due to their lyrics, which some say amount to glorifying drug cartels and organized crime. Julión Álvarez, a Grammy-nominated singer, had his US visa revoked on the day before his sold-out show in Texas after he performed songs with lyrics that were deemed too incendiary.
On the other hand, American rappers are free to express themselves without fear of government reprisal. Take YoungBoy Never Broke Again, for example. The rapper was pardoned by President Trump despite pleading guilty to carrying an illegal firearm and being involved in a prescription drug fraud ring. Today, he boasts over 20 million monthly Spotify listeners and his songs like "Murder Business" are a huge commercial success.
Another example is Lil Wayne, who has been open about his ties to the Bloods gang. Despite this, President Trump pardoned him from a felony conviction in 2020. Meanwhile, US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall recently ruled that rap lyrics cannot be used as evidence in trials, citing the importance of artistic expression and freedom of speech.
The double standard is stark when comparing Mexican artists to their American counterparts. While some might argue that the Mexican government should take a harder stance on lyrics that promote cartel culture, others point out that US authorities often turn a blind eye to similar lyrics from American rappers.
One thing is clear: song lyrics can be a powerful tool for both artistic expression and trouble. Mexican artists must navigate this delicate balance when it comes to performing at home, while American rappers seem to have more freedom to express themselves without fear of reprisal.
The phenomenon isn't unique to the music industry either. In Russia, police are arresting street musicians who play banned songs, including one that references Putin's death. It seems that the line between artistic expression and incitement to violence is often blurred.
Ultimately, it's up to each artist to decide what they want to say in their lyrics. But for those outside of the US, the stakes can be higher when it comes to visa status and government crackdowns.
In recent years, several Mexican artists have been stopped at the border due to their lyrics, which some say amount to glorifying drug cartels and organized crime. Julión Álvarez, a Grammy-nominated singer, had his US visa revoked on the day before his sold-out show in Texas after he performed songs with lyrics that were deemed too incendiary.
On the other hand, American rappers are free to express themselves without fear of government reprisal. Take YoungBoy Never Broke Again, for example. The rapper was pardoned by President Trump despite pleading guilty to carrying an illegal firearm and being involved in a prescription drug fraud ring. Today, he boasts over 20 million monthly Spotify listeners and his songs like "Murder Business" are a huge commercial success.
Another example is Lil Wayne, who has been open about his ties to the Bloods gang. Despite this, President Trump pardoned him from a felony conviction in 2020. Meanwhile, US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall recently ruled that rap lyrics cannot be used as evidence in trials, citing the importance of artistic expression and freedom of speech.
The double standard is stark when comparing Mexican artists to their American counterparts. While some might argue that the Mexican government should take a harder stance on lyrics that promote cartel culture, others point out that US authorities often turn a blind eye to similar lyrics from American rappers.
One thing is clear: song lyrics can be a powerful tool for both artistic expression and trouble. Mexican artists must navigate this delicate balance when it comes to performing at home, while American rappers seem to have more freedom to express themselves without fear of reprisal.
The phenomenon isn't unique to the music industry either. In Russia, police are arresting street musicians who play banned songs, including one that references Putin's death. It seems that the line between artistic expression and incitement to violence is often blurred.
Ultimately, it's up to each artist to decide what they want to say in their lyrics. But for those outside of the US, the stakes can be higher when it comes to visa status and government crackdowns.
. It's like, Mexico is trying to police their own artists while the US is all like "hey, I'll just let my rappers get away with whatever they want 
". I mean, Julión Álvarez gets his visa revoked for singing songs that are deemed too incendiary, but American rappers like YoungBoy Never Broke Again get to keep rapping about cartel culture and still rake it in 
. And don't even get me started on Lil Wayne's ties to the Bloods gang 
. It just feels like there's a big ol' gap between what's considered "acceptable" lyrics in the US vs Mexico, and it's causing some serious tension for Mexican artists trying to make it in the music industry.
I mean, come on... it's just so messed up that Mexican artists are being treated differently than American rappers when it comes to their lyrics. Like, what even is the criteria here? Shouldn't it be about artistic expression and freedom of speech, not some arbitrary standard of "glorifying cartel culture"? 
. It's like the world is watching these Mexican artists get roasted for talking about cartel culture while American rappers are basically getting a free pass for doing the same thing. Like, what's the difference? Is it really that hard to recognize when someone is glorifying violence and crime? And what about all those Mexican artists who have been stopped at the border because of their lyrics? They're not just talking about cartel culture, they're also talking about the struggles of everyday people in Mexico. It's like they're speaking truth to power, but instead of being celebrated, they're being banned.
. You've got rappers like YoungBoy Never Broke Again who are basically glorifying murder and dealing with prescription meds, and yet he's getting all these accolades? It's just not right. And Lil Wayne, come on... the Bloods gang? That's some deep trouble right there. But instead of facing any real consequences, he gets pardoned by Trump like it's no big deal.
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The double standard is real, fam. Mexican artists are being held to a different standard than their American counterparts, and it's just not cool. Maybe they can learn from each other? 
. And don't even get me started on Lil Wayne being pardoned for all sorts of shenanigans 
.
. And in Mexico, it's all about visa status and government crackdowns. It's just not fair to these artists. They should be able to express themselves without fear of reprisal, regardless of where they're from 
.
Like, what even is the criteria here? Is it based on cultural context or something?
This is all so frustrating! 
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It's not like they're promoting cartel culture or anything, just expressing themselves. And what's up with the US having a double standard on this? It's crazy to me how artists from different countries are treated differently in the same industry 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "artistic expression" thing - isn't that just a fancy way of saying "I'm gonna say whatever I want and you can't do anything about it"? 
. Meanwhile, American rappers who have been involved in way more serious stuff get a free pass 
.
. We were driving through this tiny town and stumbled upon this insane taco truck that served the best carnitas ever 
. I mean, we're talking crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and just the right amount of salsa... it was love at first bite 
.
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and I'm still trying to figure out how to use it lol! anyway back to this music thing... I think it's wild that Mexican artists are getting hit hard while American rappers are like "good luck with that"