Template:Infobox musical artist
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.
Early life and education
Sooraj Cherukat was born in 1992, in Malappuram, Kondotty, Kerala, India.[6][2] His father works for a leading oil company, as a result he moved around a lot.[7][8][9] 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.[8][10][6] He attended Houston Community College in 2011.[11][12] In 2012, he returned to India enrolling at PSG College in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to pursue a degree in business administration.[8][2] He worked at Goldman Sachs in 2014, and also as a personal trainer.[13][9]
Music career
2018–2023: Career beginnings
Cherukat officially 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.[14] Before the release of Kalari, he had released a mixtape consisting of him rapping on YouTube beats, called the 959 Mixtape on Soundcloud and a single "Super Mario", where he rapped over a beat which sampled the video game Super Mario's soundtrack in 2018. The name Hanumankind is a portmanteau of the Hindu deity Hanuman and "mankind".[13]
Cherukat released his sophomore EP, Surface Level, in 2020,[12][15] which was succeeded by the release of some singles, such as "DAMNSON", "Genghis", "Go To Sleep",[16] as well as collaborations, like "THAT'S A FACT" and "Enemies" with Yashraj.[17][18]
He collaborated with Charan Raj and Sanjith Hegde for the song "Maadeva" featuring on the Kannada movie Popcorn Monkey Tiger.[19]
2024-present: Breakthrough with "Big Dawgs" and debut mixtape
His song "The Last Dance" is featured on the official soundtrack for the Malayalam-language film Aavesham.[20]
He was featured in Rolling Stone India's first edition of the "Future of Music" list in March 2024.[21] He gained widespread recognition both with the release of the single and its music video "Big Dawgs", featuring Kalmi, in July 2024.[22][23] 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.[24][13]
He also acted in the 2024 Malayalam film, Rifle Club, directed by Aashiq Abu.[25] In 2025, he released his song "Run It Up", which features chenda drums in its instrumental,[26][27] and performed the song at Netflix's 2025 Tudum event.[28] He performed the single "Holiday" on the Colors Show[29] and headlined the "OTW Tour" in support of his debut mixtape, Monsoon Season, in the summer of 2025.[30] 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.[31] On November 22, 2025, Cherukat made his second appearance at Rolling Loud in his home country, India, where he performed alongside other notable names within the music scene and industry; it was also his first headlining Rolling Loud performance.[32]
Hanumankind collaborated with Indian composer Shashwat Sachdev for the soundtrack of the 2025 Hindi film Dhurandhar, on which he was featured on two tracks, "Dhurandhar (Title Track)" alongside Jasmine Sandlas, and "Ez-Ez" alongside Diljit Dosanjh.[33]
In April 2026, it was announced that Hanumankind would contribute to the soundtrack of the second season of the Netflix animated series Devil May Cry, entitled "See U in Hell" alongside Papa Roach, with the single set to release on May 7.[34] In the same month, he was featured in GQ India's list of "Most Influential Young Indians of 2026".[35]
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.[13] His musical style is significantly influenced by Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Logic.[13]
Personal life
As of July 2025, Cherukat lives in Bengaluru.[27]
Discography
Mixtapes
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Monsoon Season[36] |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Kalari[37] |
|
| Surface Level[15] |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[Billboard India Songs|Template:Abbr]] [38] |
[[ARIA Charts|Template:Abbr]] [39] |
[[Canadian Hot 100|Template:Abbr]] [40] |
[[GfK Entertainment charts|Template:Abbr]] [41] |
[[Irish Singles Chart|Template:Abbr]] [42] |
[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|Template:Abbr]] [43] |
[[Swiss Hitparade|Template:Abbr]] [44] |
[[UK Singles Chart|Template:Abbr]] [45] |
[[Billboard Hot 100|Template:Abbr]] [46] |
[[Billboard Global 200|Template:Abbr]] [47] | ||||
| "Super Mario"[48] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Template:Non-album single | |
| "Daily Dose"[37] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Kalari | |
| "S.L.A.B"[37] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="10" Template:Non-album single | |
| "Options"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Beer and Biryani"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Genghis"[37] | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Damnson"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Skyline"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Lola's Chant" Template:Small[37] |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Third Eye Freeverse (Red Bull 64 Bars)"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Go To Sleep"[37] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Ayyayyo"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Big Dawgs" Template:Small[37] |
2024 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 9 | Monsoon Season | |
| "Run It Up" Template:Small[37] |
2025 | — | — | — | — | — | —Template:Efn | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Holiday"[37] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Villainous Freestyle"[37][36] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Tangents Template:Small[52] | 2019 | Joint Custody |
| Pharmaceutical Template:Small[53] | Kumari Kandam Traps, Vol.1 | |
| 9 Template:Small[54] | 2020 | Phase |
| Namma Stories Template:Small[55] | 2021 | Template:Non-album single |
| THAT'S A FACT Template:Small[17] | 2023 | LADKE CONVICT |
| Enemies Template:Small[18] | KARAM | |
| Victory Lap Five Template:Small[56] | 2025 | USB |
| Don't Look Down Template:Small[57] | Play (The Remixes) | |
| Tequila Dance Template:Small[58][59] | Walking on Water |
Soundtracks
| Year | Film | Song | Performer(s) | Composer(s) | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Popcorn Monkey Tiger | "Maadeva" | Charan Raj, Hanumankind, Sanjith Hegde | Charan Raj | [19] |
| 2023 | Kuttey | "Ek Aur Dhan Te Nan" | Jyoti Nooran, Hanumankind | Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar, Hanumankind | |
| 2024 | Aavesham | "The Last Dance" | Hanumankind | Sushin Shyam | [60] |
| Squid Game | "The Game Don't Stop" | Hanumankind | Hanumankind, Kalmi, Parimal Shais | [28] | |
| 2025 | Dhurandhar | "Dhurandhar Title Track" | Hanumankind, Jasmine Sandlas, Shashwat Sachdev | Shashwat Sachdev, Charanjit Ahuja | [61] |
| "Ez-Ez" | Hanumankind, Diljit Dosanjh | Shashwat Sachdev, Raj Ranjodh, Hanumankind | [62] |
Promotional singles
| Year | Song | Performer(s) | Composer(s) | Promoting | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | "Taste the Thunder" | Vishal Dadlani, Hanumankind | Sushin Shyam | Thums Up | [63] |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Por | Student | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| Rifle Club | Bheera Bare | Malayalam | [25] |
Notes
References
- ↑ Meet Hanumankind, the genre-smashing rapper based in Kerala whose latest song is a global sensation, Khurana, Suanshu. The Indian Express(5 August 2024). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Who is Hanumankind, the Kerala-born rapper who smashed global records with 'Big Dawgs'?. The Times of India(2024-08-14). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ↑ Meet the rapper from Kerala who is trending worldwide with his sensational 'Big Dawgs'. Mathrubhumi(1 August 2024).
- ↑ Anand Mahindra's Big Shoutout To Rapper Sooraj Cherukat: Extraordinary, Raw Videos, Singh, Ritu. NDTV(July 29, 2024). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ↑ Future of Music – Hanumankind, Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(April 5, 2024). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 'They're rowdy. They're vibing. I rip my shirt off': the exploding career of Hanumankind, India's hottest rapper. The Guardian(2025-07-28). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ A Hit Song Brought a Rapper Unexpected Fame. But How Long Will it Last?, Haridasani Gupta, Alisha. The New York Times(April 2, 2026). Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Hanumankind: The rapper from India topping global hip-hop charts, Mateen, Zoya. BBC(30 August 2024). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 COVER STORY: Hanumankind is Just Getting Started, Hirwani, Peony. Rolling Stone India(2024-09-06). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ↑ Hanumankind: the India-born, Houston-raised rapper riding high on southern pride, Williams, Kyann-Sian. NME(2024-11-20). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ↑ 'Rapping his way to global recognition': Anand Mahindra on Sooraj Cherukat's viral 'well of death' rap, Javaid, Arfa. Hindustan Times(29 July 2024).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rooted in India, Raised on Houston Rap – The Making of Hanumankind, Coleman II, C. Vernon. XXL Mag(2026-01-15). Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Anand Mahindra is in awe of desi rapper Sooraj Cherukat, calls him 'extraordinary & raw'. The Economic Times(29 July 2024). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hanumankind and Kalmi Swim Against the Tide on New Mixtape 'Surface Level', Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(2020-10-07). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ The Best HanuMankind Songs To Listen To If You Can't Get Enough Of The 'Big Dawgs' Rapper, Sharma, Guniya. Augustman(August 13, 2025). Retrieved December 7, 2025.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Review: Yashraj Unveils A Brand New Side Of His Artistry Through 'Ladke Convict', Tripathi, Shirish. The Indian Music Diaries(October 5, 2023). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 There's so much creativity in the Indian hip-hop scene: Niles Hollowell-Dhar aka Kshmr. www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 How a Kannada song for Popcorn Monkey Tiger ended up with English lyrics. The Times of India(2020-02-15). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ Beer, Bikes & Adrenaline: How Hanumankind's international hit 'Big Dawgs' redefined masculinity, Kumar, Aman. MensXP(10 August 2024). Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ↑ Future of Music 2024. Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Hanumankind's 'Big Dawgs': The Indian Rapper Who Took Over American Hip Hop, Lidhoo, Prateek. The Quint(2 August 2024). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ↑ Big Dawgs: Hanumankind Is The Brown Daredevil We've Been Waiting For, Trivedi, Aaryaman. Rolling Stone India(24 July 2024). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ↑ Indian Directors Who Played a Huge Role in Music Success: From "Be-Together for O Sajna" to Bijoy Shetty's "Big Dawgs". Telly Chakkar(2024-08-02). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 'Big Dawgs' rapper Hanumankind's first look from Aashiq Abu's 'Rifle Club' out. The Hindu. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ↑ Hanumankind Bets Big On Himself to 'Run It Up', Conteh, Mankaprr. Rolling Stone(2025-03-06). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Hanumankind is welcoming us to rap's 'south side', Pace-McCarrick, Solomon. Dazed(2025-07-25). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Hanumankind Joins Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event Performance Lineup, Paul, Larisha. Rolling Stone(2025-05-28). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ Hanumankind continues hot streak with 'Holiday' on COLORS, Aurelius, Marcus. LIFTED Asia(June 3, 2025). Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ↑ Hanumankind Announces Debut Headlining North American Tour, Armstrong, Sam. uDiscover Music(2025-07-17). Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Hanumankind's 'Monsoon Season' Is the Arrival of a Global Rap Contender, Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(July 25, 2025). Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ↑ Rolling Loud India Headliners: Wiz Khalifa, Don Toliver, Central Cee and More. Billboard(2025-09-09). Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ↑ Shashwat Sachdev on 'Dhurandhar', Hip-Hop Experiments, and Collaborating with Hanumankind, Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(2025-07-14). Retrieved 2025-12-30.
- ↑ Let's rock 🤘 "See U in Hell," a new DEVIL MAY CRY Season 2 original song from Papa Roach ft. Hanumankind, drops May 7. Showtime., Geeked, Netflix. X.com(April 28, 2026). Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Meet GQ's Most Influential Young Indians of 2026, Ray, Sanjana. GQ India(2026-04-23). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Hanumankind Jumps Off a Cliff to Announce 'Monsoon Season' Mixtape, Hirwani, Peony. Rolling Stone India(July 11, 2025). Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ 37.00 37.01 37.02 37.03 37.04 37.05 37.06 37.07 37.08 37.09 37.10 37.11 37.12 37.13 37.14 37.15 Hanumankind – Singles & EPs. Apple Music. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association(19 August 2024). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Hanumankind. Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 23 August 2024. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ(19 August 2024). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ Discography Hanumankind. swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ↑ Hanumankind | full Official Chart history. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Big Stepper: How Sooraj Cherukat aka Hanumankind set the world ablaze, Thaker, Naini. Forbes India(January 6, 2025). Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ↑ Template:Cite certification
- ↑ Template:Cite certification
- ↑ Template:Cite certification
- ↑ India-Born, UK-Based Hip-Hop artist Arshaq Malik shares new single 'PARASITES'. Click Roll Boom(April 26, 2025). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ↑ Hear The 'New Wave of Young Dravidian Energy' on 'Kumari Kandam Traps Vol.1', Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(September 21, 2019). Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ Exclusive Premiere: Bengaluru Soul/Hip-Hop Artist Lojal's Sublime Debut 'Phase', Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(February 29, 2020). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ↑ Namma Stories: Arivu, SIRI and Others Shine In Netflix's South Anthem. The Quint(July 8, 2021). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ↑ Denzel Curry and Hunamankind jump on Fred again.., Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax's 'Victory Lap Three', Damara Kelly, Tyler. The Line of Best Fit(16 July 2025). Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ Ed Sheeran's new EP Play includes songs with Karan Aujla, Hanumankind, Dhee, more. India Today(October 17, 2025). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ↑ Rapper DIVINE premieres his 5th studio album Walking On Water, check the track list, Awasthi, Pragati. WION(December 20, 2025). Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ↑ DIVINE's 'Walking on Water' Balances Money Moves and Gully Rap Roots, Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(December 24, 2025). Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ↑ Aavesham (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Shyam, Sushin. Think Music(19 April 2024). Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ↑ Inside the Making of 'Dhurandhar's Explosive Soundtrack, Tagat, Anurag. Rolling Stone India(2025-12-11). Retrieved 2025-12-30.
- ↑ Ranveer Singh drops 'Ez-Ez' from 'Dhurandhar'; Diljit Dosanjh x Hanumankind deliver 'the biggest collab of 2025'. Times Of India(December 3, 2025). Retrieved December 7, 2025.
- ↑ Hanumankind and Vishal Dadlani Turn Up the Thunder with Thums Up. The Wire. Retrieved 2026-02-05.