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Hanumankind is an Indian rapper with a raucous, energetic style influenced by Southern and West Coast hip-hop as well as metal. Making his professional debut with the 2019 EP Kalari, he continued honing his hybrid style, and scored a worldwide viral hit with 2024's "Big Dawgs," which caught major attention due to its stunt-filled music video.

Sooraj Cherukat was born in Malappuram, Kerala, India, but spent much of his early life in Houston, Texas, where he listened to Southern rap artists like Three 6 Mafia and DJ Screw. After returning to India and pursuing a career in business, he began performing as a rapper, going by the name Hanumankind, and released the EP Kalari in late 2019. Surface Level, with longtime producer Kalmi, followed in 2020, showcasing the rapper's Lil Wayne-esque flows over boundary-pushing, sometimes industrial-sounding beats. Hanumankind released several more singles over the next few years, including 2021's "Damnson" and 2023's "Go to Sleep." However, it was "Big Dawgs," another track produced by Kalmi, that propelled the rapper into the spotlight. Released in July 2024, the song's music video featured the rapper performing in a carnival attraction known as the "Well of Death." It went viral, and the song landed in singles charts across the world. ~ Paul Simpson