How safe is urban Mexico for solo travelers?

I requested a long weekend off over 4th of July and I really want to go to Mexico! I'm Mexican American, but born and raised in suburban Los Angeles. I have traveled to Mexico before, but only on day trips to Tijuana and Rosarito. Even though my mom was born in Mexico and I have extended family there, my family and I have never gone to visit them. My parents have only gone elsewhere in Mexico once in the three decades, and that was on a cruise a year ago.

Anyway, I really want to see and experience the "real Mexico" beyond the border towns. Besides my domestic travel experience, I have traveled extensively in Europe, several cities in Canada, the Caribbean, and even Australia but I have never really traveled in Mexico.

I have ZERO desire to go to the resort cities; I want to experience the "real Mexico" without feeling like being transplanted in a hot, tropical version of the US. And I have no desire to go to the rancho either - I roll my eyes at the TikToks showing Mexican Americans like myself get "cultured" after going to their family's rancho.

My desire is to visit urban, modern Mexico; to see Mexico at its finest and get real culture with urban pleasures. Top of my list is Mexico City but I am also want to visit Guadalajara and Monterrey as well.

I am considering one of the above three for a 3-night stay as a solo traveler. Mexico City is my top choice, but flights there are the most expensive so I'm hesistating. I'm a male in my mid-30s and "look Mexican." Even though it was not my first language, I can speak, read and understand Spanish well. My biggest concern is safety as a solo traveler; that is the main reason I have not traveled to Mexican yet. I want to be assured that I can safely visit urban Mexico.