A cheery riot of brass and thumping bass drums are always on hand to help El Fantasma spin his hard-boiled ballads—tales of lead, gold, and the harsh life of ranchers in Northern Mexico. His lyrics meld cowboy poetry with a streetwise brand of philosophy that invites comparisons to rap. (Lyrically, “En el Camino” is the regional Mexican equivalent of DJ Khaled's “No New Friends.”) Starting with the 2016 viral success of his narcocorrido “Mi 45,” this potent combination took him from underground hero to the top of the charts within a very brief span of time.