Putting Maluma en el Mapa

The journey of life profoundly impacts Latin and reggaeton superstar Maluma, his music, and the ink he adorns. “Everything that is important to me is reflected in the tattoos that I get,” he explains. “I often plan them out and work extensively with the tattoo artist to create something beautiful that reflects the moment of my life.”

At age 14, Maluma tattooed his left leg with his name, a name derived from blending the first two letters of three family members: mother Marlli, father Luis, and sister Manuela. His tattoo collection escalated from there, with “Magia,” the name of his first album, drawn on his left forearm; on his right forearm, four elephants with humanlike shadows reflecting in water, to represent his family; a lion, one of his favorite tattoos, on his upper left chest; and a dove tattooed on his neck by Peruvian artist Stefano Alcantara (@stefanoalcantara), symbolizing peace, which was coincidentally tattooed flying high at 43,000 feet aboard a private jet.

His most recent body art is a feast for the eyes: a sprawling blackwork masterpiece with angels and stallions surrounding the name “Don Juan,” a fierce sky looming in the background. Rendered by Alcantara and fellow Latino tattoo artist Carlos Torres (@carlostorresart) in Turks and Caicos, the piece took 16 hours to complete.

True, “Don Juan” is a fictional Casanova from the 17th Century, but it’s also the name of Maluma’s most recent album and references his birth name: Juan Luis Londoño Arias. “It has a great meaning. I have two horses that I would say always have this duality in my life about (making) decisions and how to handle my life,” he explains. “So, I put one horse that is more calm and the other one is more kind of angry, or more desperate.”

To fully interpret his tattoos, one must delve into the life-changing events that impacted his story, from his family roots to the music he created, friendships, and the affinity and devotion to the country he will always call home: Colombia.

The Evolution of “Don Juan”

Maluma grew up in Medellín, a source of great pride and a constant inspiration for the illustrious artist, where it was assumed he would pursue a soccer career. But his love of music ultimately outshone Colombia’s beloved sport. “My family was very supportive in my arrival in my music scene,” he shares. “My aunt actually gave me my first studio session as a present for my birthday when I first started,” which gave birth to his first song “No Quiero,” or “I Don’t Want To.”

Maluma’s most recent album “Don Juan,” released in 2023, was born out of more than a decade of growth in the music industry. “With every album, my music evolves with sounds and with style,” he says. “With every album I create a persona, from Maluma Baby to Papi Juancho to Don Juan, and I love evolving with each one. I’m especially excited to go back to my ‘Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy’ era with my new music, but now more pretty and even more dirty.”

When Maluma’s first single “Farandulera” — translated to “Showgirl” in English — hit the Colombian airwaves and received resounding attention, Sony Music Colombia took notice and signed him, which led to his first studio album “Magia.” His Medellín upbringing inspired the 2012 album, which included major hits like “Obsesión,” “Miss Independent,” and “Loco,” and landed on the Colombia and Latin America music charts.

It was his next album, “Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy,” that threw him into the international spotlight when it debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums in 2015. “I don’t think I ever imagined my music would be heard around the world, especially singing in Spanish,” Maluma says. “But that’s what makes it so special. Music doesn’t have barriers and I’m proud to take my culture around the world.”

In 2016, Shakira released the steamy single “Chantaje,” “Blackmail” in English, featuring Maluma, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and made the Billboard Hot 100, Maluma’s first encounter on the esteemed chart. In 2018, the Latin singers collaborated again with “Clandestino,” or “Clandestine,” reaching the top 10 Billboard Hot Latin Songs.

In subsequent years, Maluma released two albums: “F.A.M.E.” in 2018 and “11:11” in 2019. His music career escalated further when he hit the stage with Madonna to debut her new single “Medellín” at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. The presentation of the Spanglish song was provocative and high-tech, with sensuous dance moves and Madonna holograms dancing alongside onstage.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with amazing artists that I not only admire but I can now call my friends,” Maluma says. “The way I met Madonna backstage at the VMAs in New York, and then doing two songs with her, to having her come to surprise my fans and perform together in my stadium show in Medellín in front of 55,000 people is something neither I nor my city will ever forget.”

More notable names on Maluma’s collaborations list include J Balvin, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and The Weekend. “Papi Juancho” came out in 2020, and “Don Juan” in 2023, both tributes to his namesake.

Maluma is currently on his +Pretty +Dirty European tour and will stop in Medellín for the highly anticipated second edition of MEDALLO EN EL MAPA stadium show on April 26. He will also perform on May 3 for the BOGOTÁ EN EL MAPA stadium show in the country’s capital.

Maluma cherishes his good fortune and joy, but this year heartbreak weighed heavy on the “Corazón” (“Heart”) singer, when on January 28, his 31st birthday, his beloved grandmother Bere Londoño passed away. “It was a day — like a lot of duality of feelings — where I was happy for my birthday, but on the other side I was sad because my grandmother was no longer there,” he shared on social media in the days following. “I feel like it’s time to find the best version of me.”

In the aftermath, Maluma expressed a renewed focus on peace, happiness, and reconnecting with nature. “I know the best is yet to come after changing on a mental and physical level,” he shared on social media. “I’m going to continue in this learning with a lot of peace, a lot of patience — one step at a time — a lot of meditation, a lot of love. That’s all we need in life: love.”

New Stories Unfold

In 2022, the world witnessed Maluma’s Hollywood debut in the rom-com drama “Marry Me.” “When we got that call that they wanted me for this role and I read the script, I had to say yes,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to act and for my first acting role to be starring alongside Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in ‘Marry Me’ is crazy.”

A stable fixture at premiere fashion events, it’s no surprise that one of Maluma’s most recent ventures is his new clothing line Remanence. “I’ve always loved fashion and being creative director and launching my own line is also a dream come true for me,” he shares. “It’s a line we created that can take you from the gym to everyday errands and activities with sustainable materials, all done in my hometown of Colombia but sold worldwide.”

While Maluma has been with his girlfriend Susana Gómez since 2020, there’s a new leading lady in the household who runs the show: the couple’s cherished 1-year-old baby girl. “Becoming a father has changed my life in ways I never thought possible,” he shares. “My daughter Paris has brought a new sense of love and drive that inspires me in every aspect of my life, not just my music.”

No matter the difficulties, Maluma recognizes that we’re all in this life together. In 2016, the Londoño Arias family introduced El Arte de los Sueños (The Art of Dreams) foundation, an arts-focused program that teaches vulnerable adolescents how to morally and emotionally navigate the world. The program teaches teamwork and autonomy and highlights the arts as building blocks to a better existence.

Most would agree that his life reads like a fairytale, but he strives to stay humble. “We are all the same,” he says. “I didn’t grow up rich. As a kid, my family and I struggled, so being able to live off of my passion and at the same time provide for my family is something I will never take for granted.”

Whether through his foundation, in the studio, at home, or connecting with nature, “I’m always working on music; it’s part of my DNA,” Maluma says. For his next chapter, expect more: more music, more transformations, more collaborations, and, along with it, more body art to commemorate a life of resilience, love, and optimism.