Cartel de Santa

Cartel de Santa is a Mexican hip-hop group from Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, formed in the mid-1990s around vocalist and producer Babo and guitarist and beatmaker Mono. The group grew out of Monterrey’s regional rap scene, and its sound has long stood out for fusing hip-hop with rock instrumentation, a combination reflecting Mono’s background and giving the group’s early records a heavier, more guitar-driven edge than much of the Mexican rap of the period.

Their self-titled 2002 debut album, released through a major label, established them as one of the pioneering acts of Mexican rap, with tracks like «Perros» and «La Pelotona» becoming genre staples and featuring collaborations with West Coast Latino rap figures such as Sick Jacken. The group later built its own label, giving a home to allied artists and expanding the roster with additional members over the years. Their catalog is known for blunt, often provocative lyrics dealing with street life, partying, and social commentary, delivered with a distinctly Regio (northern Mexican) attitude.

Songs such as «Pollo y Conejo», «Si Te Vienen a Contar», «Leve», and «Burbujas de Cristal» have become staples of their live shows and remain touchstones of Mexican hip-hop culture. Despite lineup changes and controversies over the years, Cartel de Santa remains one of the most influential and longest-running groups in Latin American rap.