Malandro is a colloquial term, often used in Latin American Spanish, to describe a 'thug' or 'delinquent'. It carries a strong connotation of someone involved in street life or criminal activities.
In the song, the lyrics state, "Que si andaba de malandro / Quedó atrás, me va mejor y viene más" (That if I was a malandro / That's behind me, I'm doing better and more is coming). This word is interesting because it directly references a past lifestyle, highlighting a transformation or a turning point in the narrator's life, making it a key word for understanding the song's narrative of overcoming a difficult past.
Diferente Nivel's "Así Fue" is a look back at a wild past and the journey to a better life. The song starts with the singer calling out critics who "Boca suelta nada más" [just run their mouths], because "Pocos saben la verdad" [Few know the truth] about his past as a "malandro" (a troublemaker or gangster). He makes it clear that that life "quedó atrás" [is in the past], and now "me va mejor y viene más" [I'm doing better and more is coming].
He reflects on two friends: one who died young, inspiring him "para ser cabrón" [to be a bad-ass], and another who got out of prison. He remembers the excitement of that old life: "Me gustó, me llenaba de broncas" [I liked it, it filled me with trouble], with "Tapabocas, gorra y una corta" [balaclavas, caps, and a short gun], and a "troca" [truck] with tinted windows, full of people "fumando mota" [smoking weed]. Despite all that, a "luz me iluminó" [light illuminated me], bringing "Un amor a mi llegó" [a love came to me] and a "Otro mundo diferente al que pasé" [another world different from the one I went through]. It's a story of growth, remembering where he came from but embracing a "Otro nivel" [another level] that "pinta muy bien" [looks very good].