Born in Los Angeles, CA, he moved at age four with his family to Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, and grew up there. He began his musical career in a group called Los Amables del Norte. As a solo artist, Hernández released the albums Mil Noches (2002) and Hace un Mes (2008) before rising to mainstream success. 16 Narco Corridos was the album that made him a star. Comprised almost entirely of self-written material, it was recorded in a single day's time and featured vivid depictions of drug trafficking culture. 16 Narco Corridos spawned three hit singles ("El Querendón y Cajetoso," "El Baleado," "Pilotos Canabis") and reached number four on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. The live album En Vivo: Desde Culiacán followed later in 2009 and included some material not found on 16 Narco Corridos. Moreover, the album included a new studio recording, "Carita de Angel," which was released as a single. En Vivo: Desde Culiacán reached number two on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, giving Hernández two albums in the Top Ten at the same time and confirming his status as one of the year's greatest regional Mexican revelations. ~ Jason Birchmeier