Hanumankind: "I’ve just been open to picking up things from everywhere. So there’s a little bit of everywhere within me"

Born in Kerala and raised in Houston, rapper Hanumankind (HMK) is one of the most intriguing up-and-coming voices in hip-hop. Peaking at No. 9 on the Global Charts, ‘Big Dawgs’ catapulted the singer to the international limelight in 2024. Since then, the 33-year-old has been signed to Capitol Records and performed a run of live shows and festivals, including a debut performance at Coachella earlier this year.

His current European and UK tour has taken Hanumankind – also known as Sarooj Cherukat – from Germany and France right through to the Irish capital. Before his show at Dublin’s Academy, I sat down with the rapper to recap his eventful past year.

Hanumankind at The Academy on July 14th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Dressed in a retro-style football jersey, Hanumankind leans back on a black leather couch, flashing his crew a grin. “We would have never thought that we’d get to this place,” he says when asked about his current sold-out tour. “Honestly, it feels amazing. So many different places, languages and cultures, and they all come together because of music. And we’re really just blessed – I have a lot of gratitude.”

Since the release of his viral anthem last year, Cherukat’s life has changed considerably. Amassing over 400 million streams on Spotify and 150 million views on TikTok, ‘Big Dawgs’ attracted the attention of Bun B and Project Pat, as well as A$AP Rocky, who would later feature on a remix of the tune. Collaborations with rap luminaries Denzel Curry and Maxo Kream soon followed.

“I mean, life has definitely changed, right?” HMK reflects. “It’s a lot of eyes, a lot of attention, and a lot of energy, which I wasn’t necessarily aware of before; the influx of people and movement that happens around me.”

Still learning to navigate these changes, he wants to stay true to himself and his ethos.

“I want to make certain sounds and have a certain impact on my family, my community, and the world in general,” he says. “So these changes are something I’m learning to get through.

“I guess it comes with the territory. So it’s not a bad thing at all. Just understand that this is the turf, this is the area, and get used to it.”

HMK’s new mixtape, Monsoon Season, is a collection of songs he worked on before his big break last year. Blending elements of hip-hop, rap, R&B and Indian music, he finds genres can be restrictive.

“Whatever I find cool, whatever I find enticing, whatever inspires me, I’ll lean towards that,” he says. “It doesn’t need to be a certain way, it doesn’t need to be a certain style. It doesn’t need to say a certain thing because those boundaries and those limitations just don’t work for me.”

Experimenting with different styles and textures, Monsoon Season is just the beginning. “There’s so much more I want to do. So for me, it’s a foundational spot. I’ve just tested the waters, and whatever I feel towards, I can go towards. I can dive in deeper. I think this mixtape sets the tone for that.”

Although he now lives in India, HMK spent his formative years in Texas – a time that proved to be highly influential. “Houston was probably the most impactful place I’ve ever lived, outside of India. Just because of the time that I lived there, from the fourth grade to my first year of college, and the movement, music and culture that’s from the city. It had a massive effect on me.”

You can take the man out of Houston, but you can’t take Houston out of the man.

“As much as I try, I can’t get rid of the American accent. It’s very Houston and Southern. It’s not as bad as it used to be – I feel like there was a time when it was just thick,” he laughs, shaking his head.

While “Houston is undeniable,” Hanumankind’s new mixtape reflects his perspective on multiculturalism and the constrictions of genre labels: “I’ve just been open to picking up things from everywhere. So there’s a little bit of everywhere within me.”

Monsoon Season is out now.