The power of Fuerza Regida, led by Jesús Ortiz Paz (JOP), has filled stadiums and made thousands sing their corridos tumbados, transforming regional Mexican music into a global cultural movement.
With three Billboard Awards and 18 nominations, Fuerza Regida has become a defining force transcending genres and borders—evolving from recording corridos at improvised hangouts to selling out stadiums across the United States and topping international charts. At the front stands JOP, songwriter, producer, and vocalist, whose voice and vision have shaped the group’s identity. He shares how discipline and consistency have been key to building a band that now surpasses 28 million monthly listeners on Spotify and stands firmly within the global mainstream.
What does it feel like to lead a band?
You stay true to your sound while evolving. You want to surprise, to listen to your fans, but also not give them exactly what they expect. Many times, fans don’t even know they’re going to love something until they hear it—like with our last album. We released songs like “Nel,” which were very different from what we’d been doing. People criticized us a lot, honestly, but we knew we’d created something powerful. And both that track and others on the album performed incredibly well.
An artist leading a movement can’t settle. You’re always looking for ways to grow, to try something new. You evolve by mixing styles, tuning in to what’s happening across global urban music, and taking risks without fear. That’s how the “Jersey corridos” were born—an unlikely blend of electronic rhythms rooted in New Jersey with Mexican melodies and lyricism. It made no sense on paper, which is exactly why it made sense to us. It was pure chaos, but real. In the end, taking risks is part of the process. If you’re afraid to fail, you stop moving.
Where does Fuerza Regida stand within the regional Mexican movement?
We were pioneers in breaking the mold within Mexican music. Before the explosive rise of corrido tumbado, we were already taking the genre to new places. “Radicamos en South Central” was one of our first major hits—it put us on the map, and we haven’t stopped since: millions of monthly listeners, more than 13 billion streams, and a global impact few Mexican artists have achieved.
As Mexican-American artists, we’ve had to earn the public’s respect and affection. We weren’t born in Mexico, but we’re 100% proud of our roots and our families’ origins. That’s why we give everything to our compositions, our sound, and everything this movement stands for.
And we haven’t just elevated Mexican music—we’ve opened doors for an entire generation. We’ve fused corridos with trap, reggaeton, country, house, and hip-hop. And if you look at the charts, we’re already part of the global mainstream. We’re also pushing boundaries with international collaborations, sold-out tours across the U.S. and Latin America, and bringing our music to festivals where a corrido had never been heard before. Mexican music is now global—and we’re at the forefront of that boom.
If the Jesús from ten years ago could hear what you’re doing today, what would he think?
He’d probably freak out. Ten years ago, we were just excited to have work and grow while having fun with our friends. We were a group of kids with a lot of drive and very few resources—but with an energy that couldn’t be stopped. Deep down, we always knew we’d go far; we just didn’t know when or how. What we did know was that this was ours.
And look at us now: sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, the Hollywood Bowl, the Estadio GNP, and even two arena shows in Bogotá—which still feels surreal to say. We had the #1 Latin album in the U.S. with 111xpantia. I think that younger Jesús would be speechless, not just because of what we achieved, but because of how we achieved it: no shortcuts, a lot of hard work, family close by, and always true to what we felt from day one. I always knew we’d get here—I just didn’t know what the path would be.
What do you want to leave behind with your music, beyond the sound?
I want people to know that you can dream big, no matter where you come from. If international artists want to collaborate with us, it’s because they see the potential, the culture, and the impact of our music. But to get here, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes.
We want our music to show that you can break molds, fill stadiums, and stay real—never losing what makes us unique. More than music, we want to leave behind a movement, a culture that inspires the next generation to do things their way, with pride and conviction.
Instagram: @fuerzaregida
