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.

If you grew up in the early 2000s listening to reggaeton, you know the drill. A dembow beat drops, the crowd screams " ¡Dále! " and suddenly, everyone is a philosopher. While most people remember "Más Sabe el Diablo" (The Devil Knows More) as a club banger, the song carries a weight that goes far deeper than its infectious rhythm.

The chorus is blunt: "Y más sabe el diablo por viejo, que por diablo / Por eso respeto al que le ha dao' la calle" Translation: The devil knows more because he’s old, not because he’s the devil. That’s why I respect those who have been "given" by the streets.