Hanumankind
Hanumankind | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sooraj Cherukat 1992 (age 31–32) Malappuram, Kerala, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Malappuram, Kerala, India |
| Genres | |
| Labels | |
Sooraj Cherukat (born 1992)[1] known professionally as Hanumankind, is an Indian rapper based in Bengaluru.[2][3] He released his first single "Daily Dose" from his debut EP Kalari in 2019.[4][5] He received mainstream popularity in India and internationally with his song "Big Dawgs", which features Hyderabad based music artist and producer Kalmi.[6][7][8][9]
Early life and education
Sooraj Cherukat was born in Malappuram, Kerala. His father worked for an oil company. Cherukat spent much of his early years in Houston, Texas, where he attended Houston Community College.[10] In 2012, he returned to India and enrolled at PSG College in Coimbatore to pursue a degree in Business Administration.[11] He did an internship at Goldman Sachs in 2014.[12] In 2017, he worked as Operations Analyst at the company for more than a year. Later he quit the company and joined BigCity Promotions as an Alliance & Partnership Specialist.[13][better source needed]
Cherukat devised his stage name Hanumankind, clarifying that it was simply a fusion of two arbitrary names without any spiritual connotation or association with the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman. The aim was to combine two Hindi terms 'Hanuman' with one English term 'kind'.[14]
Music career
2019: NH7 performance and Debut EP
Cherukat began his career as a professional rapper by performing at NH7 Weekender and releasing his debut EP Kalari, in 2019.[15][16]
His song "The Last Dance" is featured on the official soundtrack for the Malayalam-language film Aavesham.[17]
2024–present: International breakthrough with "Big Dawgs"
He gained widespread recognition both in India and internationally with the release of the music video "Big Dawgs", featuring Kalmi, in July 2024.[18][19] The accompanying music video directed by Bijoy Shetty, features Cherukat performing within a classic carnival attraction known as the wall of death. The video has gained significant attention for unique idea and high-octane energy.[20][21]
Artistry
While living in Texas, Cherukat was exposed to Southern hip hop, and would listen to artists like Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, UGK, and DJ Screw. He is also a fan of System of a Down.[22] His musical style is significantly influenced by Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Logic.[23][24] Cherukat's style has catapulted him as a prominent figure in Indian hip hop .[25][26]
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [27] |
CAN [28] |
NZ [29] |
US [30] |
WW [31] | ||
| "Big Dawgs" (with Kalmi)[32] |
2024 | 15 | 33 | 9 | 57 | 59 |
Film music
| Year | Track | Artist(s) | Producer(s) | Film | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "The Last Dance" | Hanumankind, Sushin Shyam | Sushin Shyam | Aavesham | Debut in feature films |
References
- ^ "Meet Hanumankind, the genre-smashing rapper based in Bengaluru whose latest song is a global sensation". The Indian Express. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "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". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Meet 'Big Dawgs' Rapper, Hanumankind, Who Impressed Billionaire Anand Mahindra With His Music Video". BollywoodShaadis. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Hanumankind - Future of Music". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "'Greatest music video to come out of India': Kerala rapper Hanumankind's Big Dawgs gets internet raving". Hindustan Times. 1 August 2024.
- ^ TAGAT, ANURAG (30 July 2024). "Hanumankind interview: Kerala-origin Bengaluru rapper catapults into the big leagues with 'Big Dawgs'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Bijolia, Disha (31 July 2024). "Homegrown Handpicked: A Playlist Of Our Favourite Tracks From July 2024". Homegrown. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Meet Hanumankind: Indian Rap Sensation Behind 'Big Dawgs'". 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Javaid, Arfa (29 July 2024). "'Rapping his way to global recognition': Anand Mahindra on Sooraj Cherukat's viral 'well of death' rap". Hindustan Times.
- ^ "Sooraj Cherukat - Hanumankind".
- ^ 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 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Sooraj Cherukat - Linkedin Profile". Linkedin.
- ^ Bureau, The Meghalayan (5 November 2022). "South Indian rapper Hanumankind enthralls the audience at Hills Festival". The Meghalayan. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Sooraj Cherukat - Hanumankind".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Beer, Bikes & Adrenaline: How Hanumankind's international hit 'Big Dawgs' redefined masculinity". MensXP. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Lidhoo, Prateek (2 August 2024). "Hanumankind's 'Big Dawgs': The Indian Rapper Who Took Over American Hip Hop". TheQuint. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Trivedi, Aaryaman (24 July 2024). "Big Dawgs: Hanumankind Is The Brown Daredevil We've Been Waiting For". Rolling Stone India. 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"". www.tellychakkar.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "How Hanumankind Is Raising The Bar For Indian Rap". The Revolver Club. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ 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 8 August 2024.
- ^ M, Umesh (30 July 2024). "Who Is Hanumankind? The Rise of Malayalam Rap Sensation Sooraj Cherukat". Filmibeat.
- ^ 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 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Sooraj Cherukat - Hanumankind".
- ^ 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 2 August 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of August 10, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ @billboardcharts (5 August 2024). "@Hanumankind1 & #Kalmi's "Big Dawgs" debuts at No. 57 on this week's #Hot100" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of August 10, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Kerala rapper Hanumankind faces racism after 'Big Dawgs' goes viral". The New Indian Express. 2 August 2024.
External links
- Hanumankind at IMDb
- HanumanKind at YouTube