Alexander García, known as El Fantasma, worked as a gardener in the United States. (Instagram: The Phantom)
In the second broadcast of season 6 of Who is the Mask?, broadcast this Sunday, October 27, Erik the Broken, who kept the investigators and audience in suspense with his charisma and peculiar accent, finally revealed his identity as The Phantom , the popular regional Mexican singer who became the third eliminated from the competition.
During the episode, researchers Anahí, Carlos Rivera, Martha Higareda and JuanPa Zurita tried to decipher the clues of the six competing characters, who performed various songs on stage.
Erik the Broken, with a festive personality and Viking appearance, sang the song “Monaco” and left multiple clues about his identity. Although his performance enchanted some, he failed to convince the public compared to Pony, who obtained 2% more votes and continues on the program.
(@eslamascara)
Alexander García was born in San José de Cañas, Durango, and before entering music, he worked as a gardener in the United States for six years. His career took off in 2016 with the release of his first single Mi 45, which was part of an album recorded live in Badiraguato, a place closely linked to drug trafficking figures.
Since then, El Fantasma has positioned itself as a relevant name in the regional Mexican genre, especially in the corrido subgenre, and has achieved important achievements such as being a finalist at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2019.
El Fantasma has forged his musical style around the lives of workers and the “underground”. With his hat and distinctive northern style, he has performed corridos that celebrate rural life, hard work and, controversially, also drug trafficking figures.
Throughout his career, El Fantasma has performed several narcocorridos, some of which refer to characters from the Sinaloa Cartel, the Beltrán Leyva criminal group and even the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias The Mencho.
One of his most talked-about songs is La Mayiza, released in 2021, which explicitly mentions Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a historical leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, recognized for his role in the organization and his ability to stay out of the reach of criminals. authorities.
The corrido describes Zambada’s men as a “suicidal army” that “applies terror only when the man says,” alluding to the characteristics and activities of the organization in the mountains.
The Phantom became the third eliminated from season 6 of Who is the Mask? (Instagram: The Phantom)
On that same album, Carteles, El Fantasma has the song La Menchiza, one of the most controversial songs. This song refers to El Mencho and describes the activities and power of this criminal organization, focusing on their influence and the methods they use to protect their territories and confront their rivals.
“Just so you are aware, El Mencho rules in Jalisco, the man is from Michoacan, and he also owns Lencho,” is heard at the beginning of the corrido.
The song Los Dos Carnales by El Fantasma is another of his narcocorridos that mentions figures related to drug trafficking and, in particular, directly alludes to the Beltrán Leyva brothers. This corrido tells the story of characters united by loyalty and brotherhood in their life in the world of crime, referring to the relationship of power, hierarchy and loyalty that characterized the brothers in this context; in addition to the future they had.
“20 years of ruling the Pacific, his empire, and then taking over all of Mexico, Hector, Carlos and Alfredo and Arturo was their boss,” we hear.
In January 2023, the singer released a song titled Los Chapos, coinciding with the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This corrido highlights the tactics of the cartel, as well as the loyalty of its members.
The Ghost with a Beltrán Leyva brothers cap. (Instagram: The Phantom)
«They are very determined men, in the ranchería they are seen as active, with their shot up they always take good care of the enemy area. Don’t look for him, they don’t move him, they are good for war. If you are careless, they will take you off the ground,” is heard in part of the lyrics.
On his social networks, El Fantasma has even shown caps with portraits of members of the Beltrán Leyva, reinforcing his connection with these characters.
Although his musical career also includes themes that are not related to drug trafficking, El Fantasma’s link with characters from this environment has generated debate about the impact of narcocorridos on popular culture.
In addition to music, El Fantasma has ventured into other businesses, such as his chain of barbershops in California and his line of caps, A-Blade Hats, thus expanding his influence in the industry and among his followers.
Just a few days ago he released Carteles Volumen 2, in which he continues singing to both CJNG and La Mayiza, as well as more specific characters such as El Chapo Isidro.
