Maluma Talks New Album, His Childhood and Hot Wheels Collab: Interview

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Maluma has always had a thing for cars. But as the Colombian superstar enters a new chapter with his album Loco X Volver and prepares to become a father of two, his longtime passion for four wheels has taken on a more personal meaning.

“I was crazy to literally go back to that kid,” Maluma tells Billboard, explaining the inspiration behind his new album. The cover features a photo of him as a child, reflecting his desire to reconnect with the memories and people who shaped him.

One of those memories starts with Hot Wheels. When Maluma was around 6 or 7, his uncle returned to Colombia from the U.S. with a huge box of Hot Wheels cars and a track. It was a formative moment for a kid who had previously only seen the toys on TV.

“It was pretty clear that I was going to love cars for the rest of my life,” he says. Today, Maluma collects cars and even has a studio designed like a garage, where he makes music surrounded by his automotive passion.

That childhood connection inspired his Hot Wheels custom die-cast, a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 that represents his Colombian roots. Maluma chose the vehicle because it reminds him of trips to farms with his parents. His family called it “La Matrona,” a fitting nickname for the car that could take everyone anywhere.

“I really love the car. It is very nostalgic for me because it reminds me when I was a kid and I used to go with my parents to different farms all around,” he says.

His path to becoming a global star has included some unexpected stops, too. In 2012, Maluma appeared on Peru’s Combate, an experience he says helped shape his personality and career. “Peru was a very important stage of my life and my career that helped me shape a little bit who I am right now,” he says. After the show, he began touring Peru and building an even stronger connection with fans there.

Today, fatherhood has changed how Maluma sees his career. “I have no expectations anymore with anything I do,” he says. “I’m making music because I love making art.”

That doesn’t mean Maluma is slowing down. He’ll embark on a new world tour in 2027 and 2028 following a global partnership with Fénix Entertainment, marking his first trek since the Don Juan Tour in 2023-24. The upcoming outing follows the May release of Loco X Volver, his seventh studio album, which returned him to his Colombian roots. The album has already produced two No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with “1+1,” featuring Kany García, and “Tu Recuerdo.”

For now, another piece of Maluma’s childhood is making its way into fans’ collections. His custom Hot Wheels Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 is part of the 2026 Global Legends Collection and now available to preorder on Mattel Creations. A Hot Wheels pop-up featuring life-size cars will also run Aug. 28-30 at The Brig in Venice, Calif.