Rapper Sooraj Cherukat, aka Hanumankind, pictured.

Hanumankind is about to be absolutely everywhere

Tell us you love Punkee without telling us you love Punkee. Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. It'll mean the world.

I’m calling it: Hanumankind is going to be the next big thing.

Whether you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels, I’m certain you’ll have come across the underground artist’s viral hit Big Dawgs by now. I’m a sucker for a synth-leaning bass, and this song’s bass line literally thuds through you. I simply cannot get it out of my head, and that’s not a complaint, because it’s a certified banger. 

What I can say is that I was not expecting the guy behind it all to be a brown dude. But I’m so grateful it is.

The music video for Hanumankind’s viral hit, Big Dawgs.

But who is Hanumankind? Where did he come from? And am I silly for saying that he could be the next Kendrick Lamar?

Who is Hanumankind?

For some context from the teensy bit of info we have on the bloke, it seems that the man behind the persona, Sooraj Cherukat, is a homegrown rapper from Kerala with a flare for spitting some epic bars. During his career the artist has hopped around the globe from the US and back to Bengaluru.

Rapper Sooraj Cherukat, aka Hanumankind, pictured.
Rapper Sooraj Cherukat, aka Hanumankind. Image credit: @hanumankind

Now, Sooraj has absolutely smashed it by breaking into the global music scene with his viral single, which went bananas on Tiktok. And his discography is filled with absolute bangers — yes, I did the research.

With Big Dawgs being so insanely popular, he’s even overtaken some of the biggest hits of the year so far on Spotify’s global ranking of the top 50 trending hits, from Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us and Tommy Richman’s MILLION DOLLAR BABY to Eminem’s Houdini.

I think it’s safe to assume he’s only going up from here. And this is huge news for the brown community tbh.

Rapper Sooraj Cherukat, aka Hanumankind, pictured performing onstage.
Rapper Sooraj Cherukat, aka Hanumankind, performing onstage. Image credit: @hanumankind

Even our Aussie icon Maria Thattil is keen to hop onboard a project centring brown representation in global spaces. She took to Tiktok to praise the artist, and also threw in a lil suggestion — her as his music video ‘it girl’ — and I would loveee to see that.

@mariathattil

Replying to @Sam ok can we start petitioning Hanumankind to let me ride a bike in his next music video because i feel like its the neighbourly thing to do as Mallus xoxo #hanumankind #bigdawgs #brown #browntiktok

♬ original sound – mariathattil
Maria Thattil talking about her shared heritage with Hanumankind as people from Kerala via TikTok.

As for what Hanumankind’s next move is going to be, I have no idea but I’m patiently waiting. He’s got literally everyone’s attention now, mine included, and I’m so excited to see what’s next.

Written by Nishika Sharma, who’s now discovered her newest on-repeat track via TikTok. You can follow her at @nishikasharma_ on socials.

Image credit: @Hanumankind Instagram + Punkee