‘There’s No Blueprint’: Hanumankind’s Journey to Success
Hanumankind’s Rise to Global Stardom
With millions of streams, international chart success, and an upcoming Coachella performance, rapper Hanumankind is experiencing a career-defining moment.
His breakout track Big Dawgs has surpassed 400 million streams on Spotify, marking a major milestone in his musical journey.
Looking back on the past year and anticipating what lies ahead, he describes himself as feeling “grateful and blessed.”
His latest single, Run It Up, has dominated the Official Asian Music Chart for three consecutive weeks. It follows the massive success of Big Dawgs, which even outperformed Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us on Spotify’s Top 50 at one point.
“We never imagined reaching this point,” he tells News Networks.
Reflecting on his career so far, he calls it a “rollercoaster ride.”
A Global Upbringing and a Bold Career Shift
Born in India, Hanumankind—real name Sooraj Cherukat—spent his childhood moving across the world.
He lived in France, Nigeria, Egypt, Dubai, the UK, and the US, shaping his diverse artistic influences.
After earning a business degree and stepping into the corporate world, he soon realized it wasn’t his true calling.
Instead, his passion was elsewhere—music.
‘We Strive to Create in Chaos’
Unlike the structured corporate world, Hanumankind acknowledges that in music, he is his own accountability.
“Making music doesn’t suddenly make things easier,” he explains.
“This is the toughest thing I’ve ever done because it demands complete presence and self-awareness.”
He emphasizes that there is “no blueprint” to follow in music, describing it as working within “the confines of freedom.”
This sense of freedom is what he channels into his sound.
Staying True to His Roots
While his music is primarily in English, Hanumankind ensures it remains deeply connected to South Asian culture.
“I don’t force it; it just happens naturally,” he says.
He believes in removing creative boundaries, letting his artistry flow organically.
For Run It Up, the music video visually represents the different cultures of India, where he returned in 2021.
“It was a 100% conscious decision to do this,” he explains.
“This song was meant to represent our culture—both in sound and message.”
He sees it as a way to showcase one perspective of a world that holds many more untold stories.
A Vision Fueled by Passion
Hanumankind credits his team for their unwavering vision, calling their work “a labor of love and passion.”
The creative process behind the song and video was “wild in an extremely chaotic way.”
“Expressing ourselves is essential because we come from the chaos,” he shares.
Despite the challenges, he thrives in this chaotic energy, seeing it as a space for growth and fun.
“The journey is ongoing; I’m continuously learning along the way,” he adds.
Learning from the Best – A$AP Rocky Collaboration
One of Hanumankind’s biggest milestones was collaborating with A$AP Rocky on a remix of Big Dawgs.
“The original track was already blowing up,” he recalls.
With 400 million Spotify streams and 219 million YouTube views, the song had the industry’s attention.
Then came the call from Rocky.
“I’ve always admired his creativity. He’s a visionary who’s been shaping the industry for years.”
From there, the remix became another defining moment in Hanumankind’s career.
Looking Ahead – Coachella and New Sounds
Next month, Hanumankind will achieve another major first—performing at Coachella in California.
“We’re still processing it all,” he admits.
His goal is to “have a great time and put on a memorable show.”
He teases that his Coachella set will introduce new sounds, bringing elements of his artistry to a wider audience.
“I want to give them a glimpse into our world,” he says.
While a new EP isn’t expected before Coachella, he hints at fresh, unreleased material that will soon be revealed.
“This is the perfect moment for people to hear what we’ve been working on,” he concludes.
