Singer Gerardo Ortiz was crowned the “Norteño Artist of the Year” at the 2013 Premios Lo Nuestro, which celebrated the best of Latin music. During the event, the composer, born in the United States (US), took to the main stage and performed a tune that was atypical for a ceremony held in Miami, Florida.
It is about a narcocorrido about Dámaso López Serrano, alias ‘El Mini Lic’, a criminal operator who in 2017 became the highest-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel in surrendering to US authorities.
The song was included in Gerardo Ortiz’s third studio album, released in September 2012 under the Del Records label, entitled ‘El Primer Ministro’. The corridor, which lasts around three minutes, is dedicated to the son of Dámaso López Núñez, aka ‘El Licenciado’, known for being a close collaborator of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.
The song was called Dámaso. In no time, the musical piece gained great popularity among listeners, to the point of being nominated for the category of “Regional Mexican Song of the Year” at the 2014 Latin Billboard Awards.
Although the narco-corrido about “El Mini Lic” did not win the prize (which was awarded to La Arrolladora Banda El Limon for the song “El Ruido de tus Zapatos”), Gerardo Ortiz received the “Artist of the Year” award in the Mexican regional category, thus positioning himself as one of the leading exponents in the genre.
Throughout the musical theme, the full name of ‘El Mini Lic’ is not mentioned. Neither is the Sinaloa Cartel or ‘El Chapo’ Guzman mentioned. Nevertheless, the song’s lyrics refer to their links with this criminal organization.
“Yes sir, I am Dámaso. I am the son of the License Holder. From Culiacán and my people have always had my back. I’m here because they put me here. I thank them for that gesture. I live for the management, and I respect my godfather,” is heard at the beginning of the narcocorrido.
The first part refers to the links that Dámaso formed within the Sinaloa Cartel thanks to his father and El Chapo, with whom he established such a close relationship that he was his best man at his wedding. Likewise, it is mentioned that El Mini Lic operated in Culiacán, the main stronghold of the organization he belonged to.
“I also like the party. Walking the strawberries from Culiacan to Guadalajara. Pulling the band, iced waters, my company pays. And ensure my people have nothing. If my plebes accompany me, secure it, because they always come well saddled. The streets are burning, I am alert. For my people, the mini-licensed,” can be heard in the middle of the song.
This verse is repeated at the end of the corrido and refers to Dámaso’s favorite pastimes: driving luxury cars around exclusive neighborhoods in the mentioned cities. Additionally, elsewhere in the song, ‘El Mini Lic’ is described as a man of his word and a passionate lover who always carried a gun with him.
In his youth, Dámaso established a friendship with the sons of ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán – better known as Los Chapitos -, which was broken before the capture of his father in May 2017 in Mexico City. In the face of this, ‘El Mini Lic’ opted to surrender to US authorities at the western entrance to Calexico, California.
In 2018, “El Licenciado’s” son pleaded guilty before a federal court in the United States for drug trafficking charges. After spending five years in jail, Dámaso obtained a conditional release thanks to his collaboration with the neighboring country.
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