While Wisin & Yandel hold down the melody, Tego Calderón’s verse is the thesis statement of the song. He talks about the "old school" vs. the "new school." He criticizes arrogance—the young blood who thinks he knows everything because he has a little money or a gun.
In many Latin American countries (and the diaspora), there is a cultural reverence for the Viejo Sabio (the Wise Old Man). But in urban sectors, that old man often isn't a scholar; he’s the guy who played the game for thirty years and lived to tell about it. Mas Sabe el Diablo
Tego raps about the importance of silence, of watching, and of remembering. He suggests that true power isn’t in throwing punches or flashing cash, but in and restraint . He knows that the person who has survived the longest in the game is the one who knows how to listen. While Wisin & Yandel hold down the melody,
The title borrows from the old Spanish adage: "Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo" (The devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil). The original saying means that experience trumps raw power. In many Latin American countries (and the diaspora),
It has become a way of saying: "You think you know because you read it in a book. I know because I bled for it."
One of the most clever lyrical moments is when the duo contrasts the angel and the devil. In pop culture, we root for the angel. In Más Sabe el Diablo , the angel is naive. The angel hasn't been tested.
If you ask Wisin, Yandel, or Tego, the answer is clear. Respect the old devil. He’s still alive for a reason. What’s your take? Do you prefer the angel’s hope or the devil’s wisdom? Drop a comment below.