Hanumankind

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Hanumankind
2025 cover photo Hanumankind.jpg
Background information
Birth nameSooraj Cherukat
Born (1992-10-17) 17 October 1992 (age 32)
Malappuram, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years active2019–present
Musical career
OriginKerala, India
Genres
Labels

Sooraj Cherukat (born 17 October 1992), [1] [2] known professionally as Hanumankind, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor from Kerala, India. [3] [4] He released his first single "Daily Dose" from his debut EP Kalari in 2019. [5] He received mainstream popularity in India and internationally with his track "Big Dawgs", which features the Hyderabad-based artist and producer Kalmi and American rapper ASAP Rocky on its remix. He acted in the 2024 Malayalam film, Rifle Club , directed by Aashiq Abu.

Contents

Early life and education

Sooraj Cherukat was born in 1992, in Malappuram, Kerala, India. [6] [2] His father works for a leading oil company, as a result he moved around a lot. [7] [8] As a child, Cherukat lived in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt, Qatar, and Italy before settling down in Houston, Texas when he was in second grade. [7] [9] [6] He attended Houston Community College. [10] In 2012, he returned to India enrolling at PSG College in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to pursue a degree in business administration. [7] [2] He worked at Goldman Sachs in 2014, and also as a personal trainer. [11] [8]

Music career

Hanumankind performing in 2024. Hanumankind live performance 2024.jpg
Hanumankind performing in 2024.

Cherukat began his career as a professional rapper by performing at NH7 Weekender, which is held in multiple cities and releasing his debut EP Kalari, in 2019. [12] The name Hanumankind is a portmanteau of the Hindu deity Hanuman and "mankind". [11] He initially collabed with Charan Raj and Sanjith Hegde for the song "Maadeva" featuring on the Kannada movie Popcorn Monkey Tiger . [13] His song "The Last Dance" is featured on the official soundtrack for the Malayalam-language film Aavesham . [14]

He gained widespread recognition both with the release of the single and its music video "Big Dawgs", featuring Kalmi, in July 2024. [15] [16] The accompanying music video directed by Bijoy Shetty, features Cherukat performing in a classic carnival attraction with motorcycles known as the well of death. The video was shot in Ponnani, his hometown district in Kerala state in India. [17] [11] He acted in the 2024 Malayalam film, Rifle Club , directed by Aashiq Abu. [18] In 2025, he released his song "Run it Up", which features chenda drums in its instrumental, [19] [20] and performed the song at Netflix's 2025 Tudum event. [21] He performed the single "Holiday" on the Colors Show [22] and headlined the "OTW Tour" in support of his debut mixtape, Monsoon Season, in the summer of 2025. [23] Monsoon Season released on July 25, 2025, featuring guest appearances from Denzel Curry, Roisee, ASAP Rocky, Rudy Mukta and Maxo Kream and production from longtime collaborators Parimal Shais and Kalmi. [24]

Artistry

While living in Houston, Cherukat was exposed to Southern hip hop and listened to artists like Chamillionaire, Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, UGK, and DJ Screw. He is also a fan of System of a Down. [11] His musical style is significantly influenced by Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Logic. [11]

Personal life

As of July 2025, Cherukat lives in Bengaluru. [20] Cherukat is not religious. [6]

Discography

Mixtapes

TitleDetails
Monsoon Season [25]

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Kalari [26]
Surface Level [27]
  • Released: 2 October 2020
  • Label: The Illage, Create Music Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles, with selected peak chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
IND
[28] 		AUS
[29] 		CAN
[30] 		GER
[31] 		IRE
[32] 		NZ
[33] 		SWI
[34] 		UK
[35] 		US
[36] 		WW
[37]
"Daily Dose" [26] 2019——————————Kalari
"S.L.A.B" [26] 2020——————————Non-album single
"Options" [26] ——————————
"Beer and Biryani" [26] ——————————
"Genghis" [26] 2021——————————
"Damnson" [26] ——————————
"Skyline" [26] ——————————
"Lola's Chant"
(with Kalmi) [26] 		2022——————————
"Third Eye Freeverse (Red Bull 64 Bars)" [26] ——————————
"Go to Sleep" [26] 2023——————————
"Ayyayyo" [26] ——————————
"Big Dawgs"
(with Kalmi, remixed by ASAP Rocky) [26] 		202439911302915239Monsoon Season
"Run It Up"
(with Kalmi) [26] 		2025—————— [A] ————
"Holiday" [26] 2025——————————
"Villainous Freestyle" [26] [25] 2025——————————

Soundtracks

List of Soundtracks
YearFilmSongComposer(s)NotesRef.
2020 Popcorn Monkey Tiger "Maadeva" Charan Raj [13]
2024 Aavesham "The Last Dance" Sushin Shyam [42]
2024 Squid Game "The Game Don't Stop" Netflix [21]

Filmography

As actor
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotesRef.
2024 Por Student Tamil Guest appearance
Rifle Club Bheera Bare Malayalam [18]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Run It Up" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 24 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. [41]

References

  1. ↑ Khurana, Suanshu (5 August 2024). "Meet Hanumankind, the genre-smashing rapper based in Kerala whose latest song is a global sensation". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Who is Hanumankind, the Kerala-born rapper who smashed global records with 'Big Dawgs'?". The Times of India . 14 August 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Meet the rapper from Kerala who is trending worldwide with his sensational 'Big Dawgs'". Mathrubhumi . 1 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Singh, Ritu (29 July 2024). "Anand Mahindra's Big Shoutout To Rapper Sooraj Cherukat: Extraordinary, Raw Videos". NDTV . Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. ↑ Tagat, Anurag (5 April 2024). "Future of Music - Hanumankind". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Thapar, Ciaran (28 July 2025). "'They're rowdy. They're vibing. I rip my shirt off': the exploding career of Hanumankind, India's hottest rapper". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Mateen, Zoya (30 August 2024). "Hanumankind: The rapper from India topping global hip-hop charts". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 Hirwani, Peony (6 September 2024). "COVER STORY: Hanumankind is Just Getting Started". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Williams, Kyann-Sian (20 November 2024). "Hanumankind: the India-born, Houston-raised rapper riding high on southern pride". NME. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Javaid, Arfa (29 July 2024). "'Rapping his way to global recognition': Anand Mahindra on Sooraj Cherukat's viral 'well of death' rap". Hindustan Times.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharma, Isha (2 August 2024). "Big Beats, Death-Defying Stunts: How Indian Rapper Hanumankind Stunned Audiences With His Viral Hit 'Big Dawgs'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Anand Mahindra is in awe of desi rapper Sooraj Cherukat, calls him 'extraordinary & raw'". The Economic Times. 29 July 2024. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  13. 1 2 Fernandes, Sandra Marina (15 February 2020). "How a Kannada song for Popcorn Monkey Tiger ended up with English lyrics". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Kumar, Aman (10 August 2024). "Beer, Bikes & Adrenaline: How Hanumankind's international hit 'Big Dawgs' redefined masculinity". MensXP . Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Lidhoo, Prateek (2 August 2024). "Hanumankind's 'Big Dawgs': The Indian Rapper Who Took Over American Hip Hop". The Quint . Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  16. ↑ Trivedi, Aaryaman (24 July 2024). "Big Dawgs: Hanumankind Is The Brown Daredevil We've Been Waiting For". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ↑ "Indian Directors Who Played a Huge Role in Music Success: From "Be-Together for O Sajna" to Bijoy Shetty's "Big Dawgs"". Telly Chakkar. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  18. 1 2 "'Big Dawgs' rapper Hanumankind's first look from Aashiq Abu's 'Rifle Club' out". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  19. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (6 March 2025). "Hanumankind Bets Big On Himself to 'Run It Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  20. 1 2 Pace-McCarrick, Solomon (25 July 2025). "Hanumankind is welcoming us to rap's 'south side'". Dazed. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  21. 1 2 Paul, Larisha (28 May 2025). "Hanumankind Joins Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event Performance Lineup". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Aurelius, Marcus (3 June 2025). "Hanumankind continues hot streak with 'Holiday' on COLORS". LIFTED Asia. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  23. ↑ Armstrong, Sam (17 July 2025). "Hanumankind Announces Debut Headlining North American Tour". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  24. ↑ Tagat, Anurag (25 July 2025). "Hanumankind's 'Monsoon Season' Is the Arrival of a Global Rap Contender". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  25. 1 2 Hirwani, Peony (11 July 2025). "Hanumankind Jumps Off a Cliff to Announce 'Monsoon Season' Mixtape". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Hanumankind – Singles & EPs". Apple Music . Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  27. ↑ Tagat, Anurag (7 October 2020). "Hanumankind and Kalmi Swim Against the Tide on New Mixtape 'Surface Level'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "India Songs: Week of August 17, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  29. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of August 24, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  31. ↑ "Hanumankind". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 23 August 2024". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  33. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  34. ↑ "Discography Hanumankind" (Switch to the "Charts" tab). swisscharts.com (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  35. ↑ "Hanumankind | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  36. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of August 24, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  37. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of August 24, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  38. ↑ "British certifications – Hanumankind". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 January 2025.Type Hanumankind in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  39. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Hanumankind – Big Dawgs". Music Canada.
  40. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Hanumankind and Kalmi – Big Dawgs". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  41. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  42. ↑ Shyam, Sushin (19 April 2024). "Aavesham (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Think Music. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024– via Apple Music.
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