'There's no blueprint': Rapper Hanumankind's journey to success

Rapper Hanumankind is experiencing a remarkable journey in the music industry. His hit song Big Dawgs has achieved an impressive milestone, garnering over 400 million streams on Spotify. When he takes a moment to reflect on his past year and the exciting future ahead, he expresses feelings of gratitude and blessing. His latest track, Run It Up, has recently claimed the top spot on the Official Asian Music Chart for the third week in a row, following the success of Big Dawgs, which even surpassed Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us on Spotify's Top 50 at one point. Hanumankind, whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat, shares with BBC Asian Network's Nayha Ahmad that he never imagined reaching such heights in his career. The journey has been a thrilling rollercoaster ride for him. Born in India, the 33-year-old artist has spent a significant part of his life living in various countries, including France, Nigeria, Egypt, Dubai, the UK, and the US. After completing a business degree and working in the corporate sector, he realized that his true passion lay in music. He made the bold decision to leave the corporate world behind and pursue his dreams. Hanumankind emphasizes that unlike the structured business environment, the music industry requires him to hold himself accountable. He acknowledges that making music is not an easy task; in fact, he considers it the toughest challenge he has ever faced. He believes that being present with oneself is crucial in the creative process. He states, 'There’s no blueprint. You have to deal with the confines of freedom. ' This freedom is something he channels into his music, aiming to create a sound that resonates with his cultural background. His new song Run It Up is a testament to this, as he intentionally infused elements of his culture into the track. While his lyrics are in English, he strives to maintain a global appeal for South Asians while staying true to his roots. He explains, 'I just try and make it as I feel. I just try and make sure that there’s no real boundary. ' The music video for Run It Up showcases the rich diversity of Indian culture, reflecting his conscious decision to highlight his heritage. He believes that this song, in particular, is a significant step towards embracing his cultural identity. Hanumankind acknowledges that his perspective is just one of many, as there is so much more to explore within his culture. He credits his team for their vision and dedication, describing the creation of the song and video as a 'work of love and passion. ' He recalls the process as being wild and chaotic, but he finds joy in expressing himself through music. He states, 'I think it’s very important for us to express ourselves because we come from the chaos. We strive to create in the chaos. ' This creative journey is ongoing, and he is continuously learning and evolving as an artist. One of the influential figures he has learned from is rapper A$AP Rocky, with whom he collaborated on a remix of Big Dawgs. The original song gained immense popularity, and Hanumankind recalls the excitement of that time, with many artists reaching out for collaborations. When A$AP Rocky contacted him, he felt honored, stating, 'He creatively is someone that I admire. I think he’s a visionary and he’s been doing incredible work for years. ' As Hanumankind looks ahead, he is preparing for another significant milestone: performing at the Coachella festival in California next month. He shares that he is still soaking in the experience and aims to put on a fantastic show. He plans to experiment with different sounds and showcase his artistic side to the audience. While he does not anticipate releasing a new EP before Coachella, he hints at introducing fresh elements that fans have yet to hear. He believes that this festival will be an excellent platform for people to discover what he has been working on.