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Hanumankind, The Artist From Kerala Dominating Worldwide Hip-Hop
At Sanskar Savvy, we Celebrate, Explore, Connect! with artists whose journeys reflect how culture moves across borders. Hanumankind stands as one of the clearest examples of a modern hip-hop artist shaped by multiple worlds, now representing Indian rap on a global scale.
Sooraj Cherukat, known to the world as Hanumankind, is one of the most compelling stories in modern hip-hop. He’s an artist who carved out his own path across continents, combining the different cultures he grew up with with his sound.
Early Life and Musical Foundations
Born in Malappuram, Kerala, in 1992, Sooraj spent his early childhood moving around the world with his father’s work, living in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar before ultimately settling in Houston, Texas, at a young age. In Houston, he first absorbed the city’s distinctive Southern hip-hop sound, laying the foundation that would later become central to his music.
After growing up in the US, Sooraj returned to India in 2012 to pursue a degree in Business Administration at PSG College in Coimbatore. Despite entering the corporate world and working at Goldman Sachs, his artistic drive remained restless. As music moved to the center of his life, he stepped forward under the name Hanumankind.
Entering the Indian Hip-Hop Scene
In 2019, Hanumankind took his first major steps into the spotlight, performing at NH7 Weekender and releasing his debut EP, Kalari, led by the single “Daily Dose.” The project marked his formal entry into the Indian hip-hop scene after years of quietly building momentum online through early mixtapes and freestyle releases that earned him local buzz and a growing grassroots following.
Over the next few years, Hanumankind steadily expanded his catalog with his second EP, Surface Level (2020), and a range of singles, including “Genghis,” “Southside,” “Rush Hour,” and more, all of which gained traction both online and at live shows. His style, rooted in Southern hip-hop but open to experimentation, drew on influences like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Logic.
Hanumankind’s Breakthrough
Hanumankind’s big break came in 2024, when he dropped “Big Dawgs” with long-time producer Kalmi. The song features a high-intensity, visually striking track shot in the infamous Well of Death stunt arena in Kerala. The song exploded, going viral across platforms, charting internationally, and earning global attention from critics and fans.
The success of “Big Dawgs” is historic. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, racked up tens of millions of streams, and even led to a remix featuring A$AP Rocky, bridging Indian rap with mainstream American hip-hop. This led to more hits like “Run It Up”, along with collaborations with artists like Denzel Curry and Roisee.
Beyond Music and Onto Global Platforms
With that momentum, Hanumankind’s reach expanded beyond music alone. He contributed music to films like Aavesham, appeared as an actor in the Malayalam film Rifle Club, and took part in global events, including Netflix’s Tudum and major festival stages.
With Dhurandhar, Hanumankind’s music hit the Bollywood mainstream, with one of 2025’s biggest hits. His verse on the film’s title track and the explosive collaboration “Ez-Ez” with Diljit Dosanjh have shown just how far Indian hip-hop has come and how central his voice has become in that space. Holding his own alongside one of the biggest names in Punjabi music, Hanumankind proved that rap shaped by global hip-hop culture can move seamlessly into mainstream Indian cinema, pushing boundaries and drawing new audiences.
Hanumankind’s Impact
For many of us in the South Asian diaspora who grew up in the US, Hanumankind represents something we rarely saw growing up. He occupies spaces that seemed inaccessible to people of our background. He fits global hip-hop stages, viral cultural moments, and conversations dominated by Western voices without flattening his identity to fit in. Watching him succeed and gain recognition on global stages without being a token for representation expands boundaries for the South Asian diaspora in creative fields.
He stands alongside mainstream hip-hop artists as an equal, bringing a perspective shaped by migration and cultural duality. In doing so, Hanumankind makes those spaces feel possible, not just for him, but for anyone who grew up navigating between cultures and wondering if there was room for them, too.
Today, Hanumankind stands as a bridge between cultures, with performances on major global stages, including Coachella in 2025, and one of the year’s largest world tours! This is even reflected in his stage name, a combination of the Hindu God Hanuman and the word “mankind”, taking his culture to the world. He’s an artist who took his first steps in global hip-hop out of Kerala and Houston, and today commands attention from Bangalore to Billboard. Keep up with his journey as he continues to make an impact across industries worldwide.
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