Sooraj Cherukat aka Hanumankind has recently burst onto the mainstream scene with his track ‘Big Dawgs.’ Garnering a quickly increasing fanbase, he’s proving to be one to watch. But as he secures his spot in both our charts and worldwide, here’s a quick dive into his career so far.
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Hanumankind first entered the music scene with the 2019 single ‘Daily Dose.’ With its haunting background instrumentals at the beginning, Cherukat proves early on with this track that he’s capable of tackling universal topics in his music. The song’s opening verse discusses the idea of wanting more for yourself in an environment that may be against you. Cherukat raps ‘And it’s a system where you only listen if they got a buck.’ It’s a strong breakout single, mixing a wide range of sounds and rhythms throughout.
‘Daily Dose’ featured on Cherukat’s first EP, Kalari. There are three other tracks, titled ‘Wildshit’, ‘Southside’ and ‘Bottle of ‘MH.’ The album was both a critical and commercial success, though not in the same fashion that ‘Big Dawgs’ has proven to be. Delving into social issues and personal introspection, the track was the first indication that Cherukat was capable of weaving together effective storytelling and powerful messages.
2020 brought Cherukat’s first collaboration, in the form of ‘S.L.A.B’, a team-up with Parimal Shais. ‘S.L.A.B’ is a Southside anthem, rooted in culture. This is made clear through both the instrumentals and the directed lyrics, including ‘mixing rasam with the rice, combinations that don’t fade away.’ The song’s primarily repetitive lyrics are ‘them Southern boys only got the bangers that we serve.’ The backing sounds are an equal ode to the area.
Parimal is known for making tracks that are distinctly South Asian, often mixing local flutes, trumpets and string instruments with more typical rap beats. It’s a massive reason why the song is so vibrant and interesting, compared to many of the tunes available in the rap genre. There is no doubt that Shais working with Cherukat helped to elevate his early profile.
Cherukat followed up with another single, ‘Options’ before releasing his second EP, Surface Level, in 2020. Composed of 4 tracks, the mixtape is his second work with his now longtime producer Kalmi, who then went on to help produce ‘Big Dawgs.’ The tape was created in four days – a highly impressive feat. Despite the frustrated groan at the beginning of ‘No Hooks’, there are no visible hiccups to the flow of this mixtape. ‘Catharsis’ is skittering and trap-informed, while ‘Rest In Power’ is noisy and full of corroded basslines. Elsewhere, there’s a vast range of cultural references from Dragon Ball Z to comics and tennis stars – proving that this is in no way a singularly layered project. What comes out of it is both cohesive and triumphant, an ode to hard work and dedication to stepping outside the box.
‘Beer and Biryani’ was released next, another project that effortlessly blended cultural references. Another project with Shais, it’s another example of both artists pushing the boundaries of what’s expected to create an entertaining track. One of the most interesting lyrics is definitely ‘Not a role model….put the demons in the word demonstrate.’ It’s not the type of sentiment you’d expect from this track but it does somehow work. With the video also being shot in the space of 20 minutes, it’s clear Cherukat enjoys putting projects together on tight deadlines.
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‘Genghis’ is one of the more inspiring and relatable tracks in his discography. Highlighting change and what it brings, after the year that was 2020 the release of ‘Genghis’ was a breath of fresh air. As a result, the world was at the dawn of a new age with positive energy. With lyrics like ‘What’s the point in fearing death if you aren’t living, my guy?’ Cherukat challenged listeners to move forward with the mindset of seizing the moment, whatever it brings.
A further two releases arrived during the latter end of 2021, titled ‘Damnson’ and ‘Skyline’ respectively. ‘Damnson’ possesses a groovy beat, making it a hardcore hip-hop shaker that is capable of making people riot (in a positive sense). ‘Damnson’ and ‘Genghis’ also both symbolised the artistic evolution that Cherukat has been on, with both indicating a sonic shift from what was present in previous projects. These new songs served to be far more pointed and hard-hitting. With the energy of ‘Damnson’ it’s almost impossible to not be dancing.
‘Skyline’ explores the pursuit of success and the challenges that come with it. While not all of us are in the music scene, these are themes that will always be meaningful, no matter who they’re being presented to or the context. Cherukat emphasises that while he is confident in his abilities to navigate these challenges, there is also the potential for danger and violence. He touches on the struggle of balancing weighty responsibilities and ambitions, admitting that he feels like he is carrying the “weight of the world on his motherf**king head.”
Things slowed down in 2022, with a total of three releases – ‘Lola’s Chant’, ‘Third Eye Freeverse’ and ‘Chalta Hai.’ The following single, ‘Go To Sleep’, was the last single released before ‘Big Dawgs’ and continued to showcase the signature sound that fans appreciate Hanumankind for. With deep bass, the song also features an interesting tribute to Fight Club.
Fast forward to 2024, and comeback hit ‘Big Dawgs’ has rocked the music industry in the best way possible. Racking up 25 million views on YouTube so far, it’s an incredibly dynamic track, made more impressive by the many elements visible in the music video. Featuring expensive cars, death-defying motorcycle stunts and the nostalgia of childhood fairs all wrapped up in a 3-minute clip, it’s no wonder this hit has catapulted Desi hip-hop firmly onto the world stage.
While Hanumankind already had a dedicated audience, this has truly been the single to put his music on the map. With thousands of people flocking to streaming platforms to discover his past work too, there’s a sense out there that although he’s been around for a while, this is just the beginning for Hanumankind. Watch this space!
