Peso Pluma: The Heavyweight of Corridos

Introduction

Peso Pluma, the pride of Jalisco Mexico, has exploded on the music scene. His unique style of Corridos Tumbados blends traditional regional Mexican music, Trap, Reggaeton, and Hip Hop. With over 1Billion views on YouTube and a jaw dropping 14 Billion views on TikTok, Peso Pluma has leveraged the virality of Social Media to bypass traditional labels and go straight to the fans. With appearances at Coachella and the Jimmy Fallon show, Peso Pluma has made Corridos mainstream. If you need further proof of his fame, he currently occupies 8 spots on the Billboard Top 100 and 6 spots on the Spotify US Top 50. This blog post goes deeper into his upbringing, early music career, and path to early stardom.

Peso Pluma Personal Life

Peso Pluma (aka Doble P) née Hassan Emilio Laija; was born on June 15, 1999 in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. His father Hassan Kadame Toledo is of Lebanese descent and grew up in Jalisco, and his mother Rubí Laija Díaz is from the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Hassan grew up in the capital of Jalisco, Guadalajara, and later attended high school in San Antonio, Texas. Given that he uses his mother’s last name, one could infer he was raised by his mom, but we don’t know many details about his family, so let’s move on.

Peso Pluma’s Early Music Career

This is where it gets interesting for fans of his music. Peso began playing guitar at the age of 15, taking lessons online from YouTube. He wrote his first songs by using personal journal entries as lyrics. He caught some heat from friends who made fun of him for writing out his emotions, but kudos to the young man for taking care of his mental health and turning it into something beautiful. Thankfully he kept going, heavily influenced by Ariel Camacho, lead singer of the popular norteño group Los Plebes del Rancho. Camacho was one of the originators of “narcocorridos” — accordion-driven ballads telling of the violent lives of drug traffickers. Peso also credits the influence of hip-hop, rap and reggaeton on his musical style. “I always listened to reggaeton, hip-hop and rap but I realized that my voice was made to sing corridos because I would hear them played around family all the time. My family listens to that genre and well, the more I sang, the more I realized my voice shined differently there than in any other genre.” - Peso Pluma Interview with Variety

Peso Pluma started his music career by playing in a band with family members, collaborating closely with his cousin Roberto “Tito” Laija Garcia. He later went solo, and was signed by a small Mexican record label called “El Cártel de Los Ángeles”. He took on the stage name “Peso Pluma” (featherweight) after Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera referred to him as 'Peso Pluma’ due to his lean build. In 2020, Peso released a series of live albums and his first studio album “Ah y Qué?”.

In late 2021, he connected with future mentor Arminio Morales, the brother of LA rapper Jessie Morales aka “El Original de la Sierra”. The partnership led to a connection with the indie label Prajin Music Group who repped leading acts of regional Mexican music and later expanded into hip hop, reggaeton and other genres across Latin America and the US.

Peso Pluma’s Breakthrough

The switch to a larger record label paid off immediately and in February of 2022 he released a collab. with Raul Vega (part of the Vega musical legacy including Chuy and Sergio Vega). The hit single "El Belicón" (Spanish for bellicose; someone aggressive, inclined to war and violence), a corrido trap hit romanticizing the narco lifestyle, blew up on YouTube and today stands at over 195M views.

Following the success of El Belicón, Peso Pluma’s success began to accelerate driven by viral videos on TikTok and YouTube from a string of hits including - AMG, La Bebe (remix), PRC, and A Mi Apá. As of May 2023, his official videos have over 1.2B views on YouTube and the #pesoploma hashtag on TikTok has 13.6B views (!!!).

Peso Pluma’s Crossover Success

Peso Plumas third studio album “Sembrando” was released in April of 2022, and was moderately successful. Despite this, Peso’s singles featuring artists like Becky G, Eslabon Armado, and Yng Lvcas have skyrocketed the young musician to fame. In the last few months Peso Pluma has been seen on the Coachella stage with Becky G, on Jimmy Fallon with his US TV debut, and continues to rack up the views on social media. Simply put, the man is having his moment.

More impressive is his crossover appeal with more mainstream American audiences (yup I mean white people). He’s had 6 singles certified Platinum (totaling 500K+ units sold) in 2023 alone. For the Week of May 6th 2023, he’s sitting at #4, 11, 28, 33, 40, 56, 57, and 80 on the Billboard Top 100. On Spotify’s Top 50 in the US he’s also #1, 4, 9, 12, 27, and 50. Bro is killing it right now.

Peso Pluma Tattoos

One of the more distinctive traits of Peso Pluma are his facial gestures, hand signs, and of course his tattoos. Let’s dig into some of his ink -

Peso Pluma Free Printable Coloring Sheets

Check out our free printable coloring sheets below to exercise some fan art and relax with a mindful activity. You can also color them online with our free coloring app in the Lalo App.

Musical Influences

• Corridos: Corridos date back to the 1800s and the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. They were a way to tell stories, preserve history, and spread news. Themes typically focused on war heroes, villains, and the frontier lifestyle. They often incorporate traditional Mexican instruments, such as the accordion and the guitar.
• Narcocorridos: A subgenre of Corridos that started in the 1970s and gained popularity in the 80s and 90s. They are known for glorifying the lifestyles of drug traffickers and cartels, portraying them as folk heroes and romantic figures. Pioneers of the genre include: Chalino Sánchez, Los Tigres del Norte, and Los Tucanes de Tijuana, among others.
• Corridos Tumbados: A variant of Corridos that incorporate trap and hip hop originating in the early 2010s, a modern twist on the old ballad styles of Corridos. They sometimes add electronic beats as well as traditional brass instruments used in mariachi like trumpets, trombones, the double bass, bajo sexto and snare drums. The lyrics often address themes like drug trafficking, gang violence, and love, and are typically sung in a melodic, rap-singing style. Some popular artists in the corridos tumbados genre include Natanael Cano, Junior H, and Ovi.
• Corridos Belicos: Also known as "war corridos," are a subgenre of Mexican corridos that emerged during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and have continued to be popular throughout Mexican history. These songs typically describe heroic deeds and battles, often romanticizing the struggles of revolutionaries and soldiers in times of war. The lyrics may reference specific battles or historical events, and may include political messages or calls for social justice. Popular groups in the genre include: Los Alegres de Terán, Los Relámpagos del Norte, and Calibre 50.
• Trap: Trap music is a subgenre of hip hop that originated in the southern United States in the early 2000s. It is characterized by its heavy use of 808 drum machines, synthesizers, and repetitive lyrics about drug use, violence, and street life. The style was popularized by artists like T.I., Young Jeezy, and Gucci Mane, and has since evolved to incorporate influences from other genres, such as EDM and R&B. Trap music has become a mainstream phenomenon, with artists like Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future among its most popular proponents.
• Reggaeton: Reggaeton is a genre of music that originated in Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. It is heavily influenced by reggae, dancehall, and hip hop music, and is characterized by its distinctive dembow beat, a repetitive rhythm that combines a snare drum and bass drum pattern. The lyrics are often sung or rapped in Spanish, and typically address topics like love, sexuality, partying, and street life. Reggaeton was initially popularized in Latin America and the Caribbean, but has since gained a global following, with artists like Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny among its most successful performers.

Top Corridos Musicians and Groups

During the period of 1940 to 1980, several singers emerged in the corridos genre and became popular in Mexico and beyond. Some of the most well-known and influential performers from this era include:

Pedro Infante: known for his versatile voice and starring roles in many Mexican films, he recorded several corridos throughout the 1940s and 1950s that became classics of the genre.

Jorge Negrete: another popular actor and singer who recorded many corridos during the 1940s, he is often credited with helping to elevate the genre's prestige and popularity.

Lola Beltrán: known as "La Grande de Jalisco," she was a powerful and emotive singer who recorded many corridos and other Mexican folk songs during the 1950s and 1960s.

Vicente Fernández: one of the most iconic and enduring performers in Mexican music history, he rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with his powerful voice and emotionally charged performances of corridos and other genres.

Antonio Aguilar: often referred to as the "father of modern corrido," he was active throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and recorded hundreds of songs that became staples of the genre.

Los Tigres del Norte: a group from Sinaloa that has been active since the early 1970s and is known for its socially conscious lyrics and distinctive accordion-driven sound.

Ariel Camacho: a rising star in the corrido genre in the early 2010s, Camacho blended traditional and modern influences to create a distinctive sound before his untimely death in 2015.

El Komander: one of the most successful and controversial performers in the modern corrido scene, he has been active since the early 2000s and has been criticized for some of his lyrics' violent and misogynistic themes.

Stay Connected with Peso Pluma Socials

You can stay connected to Peso Pluma on the following social media accounts -

Personal Accounts:

• Peso Pluma Instagram @pesopluma
• Peso Pluma YouTube
• Peso Pluma TikTok
• #pesopluma on TikTok
• Twitter @_PesoPluma
• Peso Pluma facebook

Record Label Accounts:

• El Cartel de Los Angeles YouTube
• Prajin Music Group YouTube

Closing Thoughts

There is no telling where Peso Pluma can go from here, but certainly his global fans, Mexicans, Chicanos, Mexican-Americans, and the overall LatinX community are behind the movement of bringing modernized regional Mexican music to the masses. Although his nickname may be Peso Pluma (featherweight), we feel he certainly is more of a Peso Pesado (Heavyweight) in the music industry.

Peso Pluma FAQs

1. Q: Is Peso Pluma related to Will Byers (Noah Schapp) from Stranger Things? Nope, but that’s hilarious.
2. How old is Peso Pluma? He was born 6/15/99 so as of 5/8/23 he is 23 years old.
3. What ethnicity is Peso Pluma? 100% Mexican. His parents are Mexican, and his dad has some Lebanese roots. Most Mexicans have a mix of Spanish and indigenous roots, but yo we’re not 23andMe so we can only guess.
4. Why is Peso Pluma so famous? His voice, good looks, and collabs with other artists have blown up on TikTok and YouTube. His songs show a bit of that gangster narco lifestyle in Mexico and it’s caught on like Gansta Rap did back in the day.
5. How many hits does Peso Pluma have? Six (and counting) of his singles have been certified Platinum. El Belicon, Simpre Pendiente, AMC, PRC, El Azul, and Ella Baila Solo.
6. What kind of music is Peso Pluma? His Music can be categorized as a modern take on regional Mexican Music. Most are of the subgenre of Corridos (Corridos Tumbados, Narcocorridos), but he mixes in Reggaeton, Hip Hop as well as Sierreños (another Mexican regional music genre).
7. Is Peso Pluma touring? Yes, you can see some of his tour dates here at Peso Pluma Ticketmaster.
8. Peso Pluma Height? He’s around 5’ 11” and about 170 lbs. Feather weight.
9. Peso Pluma Net Worth? No idea, probably around $10M and counting.
10. What does Peso Pluma mean? Featherweight is a boxing term given to him because of his lean build.
11. What is Peso Pluma’s real name? Hassan Emilio Laija
12. Where is Peso Pluma from? Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
13. What song made Peso Pluma famous? El Belicon with Raul Vega
14. Is Peso Pluma dating Becky G? Not that has been confirmed but the two did share a magical moment at Coachella.
15. Does Peso Pluma like Bad Bunny? Yes. While Peso did talk some sh*t at a concert flexing over passing “el pendejo” Bad Bunny off the charts, he later walked it back apologizing and stating how Bad Bunny has been a big influence and how he apologized in person to clear it up.
16. Is Valentín Elizalde Peso Pluma’s Father? No, but they do sound alike. See Peso Pluma’s parents here on this TikTok.

    @viri9906 Mamá y papá de hassan juntos#@Peso Pluma #mamadepesopluma #fyp #amg #paraty #pesopluma #doblep ♬ sonido original - Viri Guinto

Peso Pluma Discography