After a five-year hiatus from the US due to visa revocation for a minor charge of possession of marijuana, Mexican musician Codiciado made an impressive comeback. Barred from entry just as his career began to take off, the Tijuana-born artist didn't let this setback slow his momentum. He had already co-founded Grupo Codiciado in 2015 and quickly gained industry recognition with eight full-length albums — since 2016 Si Lo Digo Es Porque Puedo until 2022 Cuadro de Honor via Rancho Humilde.
Undeterred by challenges, Codiciado used this period to reinvent himself. He split from Grupo Codiciado to pursue a solo venture, a move catalyzed as much by thought as by fan encouragement. “When we made the decision to break up, I really wanted to stop – I didn't want to make music, because I had this idea that we were a band and people knew me for the band,” he says. Billboard Español. “But the people who were with me at the time encouraged me to say that it wasn't there, that it was just a stepping stone, a stumbling block. We had to continue.”
This new venture culminated in his 2023 solo debut, Golpes de La Vida, which delved into his personal and professional experiences. Instead of slowing him down, the separation from the US public fueled his resolve, setting the stage for a triumphant comeback.
Codiciado's re-entry into the US market was marked by a successful five-date tour with sold-out venues and record attendances, particularly at Sacramento's Hard Rock Live. The success of the tour not only confirmed his artistic presence, but also prompted him to schedule an extensive second leg of the Ando Enfocado tour in the US. This new leg included 14 additional dates, starting in Brooklyn, New York and concluding in Reno, Nevada on October 26th.
But before that, he will also tour Mexico and perform at RUMBAZO 2024, a Latin music festival in its third edition in partnership with Billboard. Headlined by Nicky Jam and Luis R. Conriquez, the event will take place on September 13th and 14th in Las Vegas and will also feature Arcángel.
Meanwhile, the singer-songwriter is also making his rounds Advertising sign diagrams. “Gabachas,” featuring Joaquin Medina and Sheeno, secured its first top 10 spot on the Latin Pop Airplay chart, peaking at No. 9 in June. “It was just a studio session,” he says of the creative process. “We got together in Los Angeles and spent about four or five hours making the beat, the lyrics and the melodies.”
His musical influences and the roots of his passion for Mexican music were shaped by his environment and personal experiences in Tijuana. “The music I fell in love with [I heard] at home and in the streets of Tijuana, listening to corridos,” Codiciado explained. He cites Los Tucanes de Tijuana as a major influence and states that he was 14 when he wrote his first song. “It was a runway I did for…. I mean, I didn't know about cartels in those days, just what I heard on the street, but it was a corridor for someone from Sinaloa,” he says.
To his stage name, Codiciado – meaning “coveted” or “sought after” – he adds, “[Codiciado] it's something you want to have, something that costs money. I told my former bandmates that we had to live up to the name, which we had to live up to so that we were really in demand – which costs money, unlike any local band.”
In terms of his style – as an artist who can be mistaken for a rapper, but also with a fashion sense that one could associate with Natanael Cano and the new wave of corridos – Codiciado was also ahead of the curve, wearing urban clothes used to be a thing in Mexican music.
“I had several arguments with older colleagues, because they thought I was [dressing this way] to look out of place A lot of people took it as an insult, saying, 'No, man, we're the same, and you're wearing lockers and beanies and sneakers, and here we are in hats and cowboy boots,'” he recalled. “I did it because I'm from Tijuana. Although my parents are from Sinaloa, my culture is more urban. In fact, when Nata later broke out – and several other new young artists – they all tried to have that image. It was a big change for the genre.”
Beyond his music career, Codiciado has remained committed to giving back to the community. His partnership with La Fundación UFW, a foundation started by activist Cesar Chávez, underscores his dedication.
“We as a society need to be a little kinder and empathize more with people who don't have,” says the artist born Erick de Jesús Aragón, who began earning money working in the fields of Southern California. “It's always good to do our part. Even people who work in the fields or on the streets have feelings and often share what they have. So I always try to encourage others to do the same. If you have 100 pesos, give 10, 20, nothing happens. I try to have those approaches, not only with the fields, but also with the children and the families.”
Name: Erick de Jesús Aragon Alcantar
Age: 31
Featured Song: “Vamos Aclarando Muchas Cosas”
Biggest achievement: “My children. A four-year-old son and a ten-year-old daughter.”
What's next: “The second part of my Ando Enfocado tour. [First] we are planning a tour of Mexico. The upcoming album is called No Lo Intenten En Casa, Vol. 2because when I was with Grupo Codiciado, we did No Lo Intenten En Casa. This album contains corridos bélicos. We want to continue with volume two. I've already recorded it — I'm just working on the vocals so we can have it ready for November.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/codiciados-latin-artist-on-the-rise-corridos-comeback-1235719105/
