Peso Pluma
url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425203015/https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/estados/2022/10/05/la-chapo-cultura-llega-a-su-maximo-esplendor-en-culiacan-sinaloa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In celebration of the city's 491st anniversary, an image of El Chapo was projected on screen for the entirety of his performance, attaining backlash from the audiences, organizers, the city council, and netizens for allegations of promoting drug trafficking. El Colectivo de Mujeres Activas Sinaloenses, A.C. (CMAS AC) publicly denounced the act, claiming how the performance went against the goal of the festivities to mark "the beginning of the end of drug culture in Culiacán". On the association's official Twitter account, they claimed accountability from municipal president Juan de Dios Gámez to apply sanctions on the singer "to guarantee non-repetition", attaching an excerpt of Article 254 of the Penal Code for the State of Sinaloa and indicating the application of up to two years in prison for the accusation. In defense, the city council declared that while it disapproved of the projection of the drug leader's image, the municipal authority was "in favor of the freedom of expression of all artists", also considering how the singer was a last-minute addition. Pluma's songs have also led to threats from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a rival to the Sinaloa Cartel.
In retrospect of the incident, Pluma defended himself in a 2023 interview with Pepe Garza on YouTube: "They tried to smear me there, but [it's] nothing that cannot be fixed. I kept going forward with my career." He denied rumors of actual connections to the cartel, clarifying, "I am an artist, and we do nothing more than appear on stage and sing what we write." The incident gave attention to the rise of the genre narcocorrido, which comprises ballads dedicated to themes of marijuana and the illegal drug trade. "Siempre Pendientes" peaked at number 27 in Hot Latin Songs, 155 on the Global Excl. U.S., and number 174 on the Global 200, becoming Pluma's first global hit in the Billboard charts. The track was the artist's first entry in Mexico Songs, debuting at number 9 on the week dated 3 September and charting for 20 weeks. Pluma announced "El Gavilán" as his next single due on 21 October, working with Tony Aguirre and becoming his second collaboration with Conriquez. The song rose to number 41 in Hot Latin Songs by the end of the year. On 18 November, he released "Ando Enfocado" with Jaziel Aviles and Codiciado.
Natanael Cano and Gabito Ballesteros co-released "AMG" with the singer on 24 November, marking the highly anticipated first collaboration of Cano and Pluma as forefront figures in the subgenre of corridos tumbados. Written by Tito about the path to success and named after the Mercedes-AMG G 63, a music video was uploaded on Cano's YouTube channel featuring the trio partying in the Mexican city nightlife, splicing in between footage of Mexican brass players. "AMG" debuted at number 25 on Mexico Songs on 17 December. The singer partnered with Alemán on "Delivery" on 9 December, setting an experimental shift in his sound with the prominence of hip-hop beats. On 30 December, Fuerza Regida released their album Pa Que Hablen, containing the track "Igualito a Mi Apá" with Pluma.