The Strength of Street Knowledge: A Comparative Analysis of Gangsta Rap and Narcocorridos

In "The Strength of Street Knowledge: A Comparative Analysis of Gangsta Rap and Narcocorridos," Edgar Vega engages in a comparative lyrical analysis of the narcocorrido, a subgenre that has faced heavy social critique for its... [ view full abstract ]

In "The Strength of Street Knowledge: A Comparative Analysis of Gangsta Rap and Narcocorridos," Edgar Vega engages in a comparative lyrical analysis of the narcocorrido, a subgenre that has faced heavy social critique for its controversial portrayal of the Mexican war on drugs, and U.S. gangsta rap, the narcocorrido's chronological twin. He asserts that the negative connotations plaguing each of these subgenres have also become associated with their fans. As he deconstructs the racialized misconceptions attached to both genres, Vega asks: Are these two musical genres actually venerating the violence and chaos? Or are these artists simply contextualizing their lived realities through their lyricism?

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