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Hanumankind: The Kerala Rapper Behind the Viral 'Big Dawgs' Breakout

Sooraj Cherukat, born 17 October 1992 in Malappuram, Kondotty, Kerala, known professionally as Hanumankind, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor from Kerala, India. He released his first single, "Daily Dose," from his debut EP Kalari in 2019. He received mainstream popularity in India and internationally with his track "Big Dawgs," and has since become one of the most exciting names in Indian hip-hop's new wave.

A Childhood Across Continents

Cherukat's father worked in the oil industry and the family moved frequently. As a child, he lived in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt, Qatar, and Italy before settling in Houston, Texas, when he was in second grade. In Houston, he absorbed the city's distinctive hip-hop culture. He attended Houston Community College in 2011, then returned to India in 2012, enrolling at PSG College in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to pursue a degree in business administration.

From Corporate Life to Rap

After his degree, Cherukat worked at Goldman Sachs in 2014 and also as a personal trainer. But the corporate world could not contain his artistic ambitions, and he left to pursue music. His stage name is a portmanteau of the Hindu deity Hanuman and "mankind." He officially began his career as a professional rapper by performing at NH7 Weekender and releasing his debut EP Kalari in 2019, having earlier released a mixtape on SoundCloud and a single, "Super Mario," in 2018.

The Big Dawgs Moment

Hanumankind's breakthrough came with "Big Dawgs," featuring Hyderabad-based artist and producer Kalmi, with an A$AP Rocky remix following. The track was written, composed, and performed by Hanumankind and produced by Brown Crew Productions. Released in July 2024, the track's music video, directed by Bijoy Shetty, was shot inside the "wall of death" (maut ka kuan) in Ponnani, Kerala, where daredevil motorcyclists perform gravity-defying stunts in a giant wooden pit. The track topped Spotify's Global Viral chart and soared past global heavyweights on international music charts.

What Comes Next

Hanumankind has since taken Indian hip-hop to Coachella, acted in the 2024 Malayalam film Rifle Club directed by Aashiq Abu, and released tracks including "Genghis," "Skyline," "Damnson," "Southside," and "Rush Hour." Signed to Def Jam India, he has continued building on the Big Dawgs momentum, and his rise has made him a leading voice of the scene's new wave.

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