Despelleja literally means "flays" or "skins alive." It's a very strong and visceral verb that evokes a sense of extreme vulnerability and pain.
In the context of the song, the MC feels like they "se despelleja" (flays themselves) every time they go on stage. This powerful metaphor conveys the intense emotional exposure and raw honesty they experience when performing, as if they are stripping away their own skin to reveal their true self to the audience.
Ana Tijoux's "Crisis De Un Mc" pulls back the curtain on the often-hidden struggles of an artist, specifically an MC. It's all about the internal battles they face, even when the audience sees them as strong and confident. She talks about the MC staring at a blank page, feeling like no words are good enough: "La pagina blanca abierta espera de su atuendo / Pero, ningún traje es suficientemente bueno" [The open white page awaits its attire / But, no outfit is good enough]. It's a feeling many creatives can relate to, that constant push for perfection and the feeling of not being quite full.
This song really digs into the loneliness and idealism that can come with being an artist. The MC feels isolated, needing to be "bajo su toldo" [under their awning], even while singing for everyone else. It's a huge contradiction! Tijoux broadens this idea, showing it's not just an MC's crisis, but a "Crisis de hombres, crisis de MC's / Crisis de seres que quieren ser felices" [Crisis of men, crisis of MCs / Crisis of beings who want to be happy]. It's a powerful reminder that behind the performance, there's a human being dealing with their own scars and finding their way through words.