Let’s get one thing straight: Hanumankind isn’t here to play nice. The Houston-raised, Bangalore-based rapper — born Sooraj Cherukat — has always straddled worlds, but his latest single, Run It Up, feels less like a bridge between cultures and more like a Molotov cocktail of sound. Dropping at midnight this Thursday (March 7, 12:52 a.m. ET, to be exact), the track reunites him with producer Kalmi and director Bijoy Shetty, the mad scientists behind his RIAA platinum-certified smash Big Dawgs. And honey, this one’s louder.
Picture this: A beat that hits like monsoon rain on a tin roof, thanks to the chenda — those thunderous traditional drums from Kerala, India — layered under HMK’s razor-sharp bars. “There ain’t a dude with the drive and the vision like I have / Unless I go look in the mirror, baby!” he spits, doubling down on the self-mythology that turned Big Dawgs into 2024’s sleeper hit. If that track was a flex, Run It Up is a full-blown manifesto.
The Vibe
You ever heard a chenda in a rap song? Neither had I — until now. Kalmi’s production here is all controlled chaos: The drums don’t just bang; they rattle your spine like a rickshaw ride through Bangalore’s potholed streets. HMK’s flow? Think J. Cole’s introspection meets Travis Scott’s dystopian energy, but with a masala chai twist. And Shetty’s video — which premieres alongside the track — reportedly leans into the track’s cultural schizophrenia, splicing Houston strip malls with Kerala temple festivals.
The Backstory
Cherukat’s journey reads like a Netflix series pitch: Kerala-born, Houston-bred, Goldman Sachs-quit, now Def Jam India/Capitol-signed. His stage name? A wink to Hindu mythology’s monkey god Hanuman (“honor, courage, loyalty”) and the universal struggle of “mankind.” “Everyone’s seen Hanuman — even if you’re not Hindu,” he told Rolling Stone last year. “It’s shorthand for ‘Indian,’ but mankind? That’s the rest of y’all.”
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a single drop — it’s a runway. Next stop: Coachella, where HMK becomes the first Indian-American rapper to grace the festival’s stages. Timing’s everything, and with South Asian representation in hip-hop having a moment (see: Charli XCX’s 360 video, NAV’s global pull), Run It Up feels less like a gamble and more like destiny.
Key Details Table
| Single | Release Date/Time | Collaborators | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run It Up | March 7, 12:52 a.m. ET | Kalmi (prod.), Bijoy Shetty (dir.) | Def Jam India / Capitol |
Will Run It Up eclipse Big Dawgs? Who knows. But between the chenda’s primal thump and HMK’s diamond-cut confidence, one thing’s clear: Hanumankind isn’t just crossing borders — he’s erasing them. Catch him at Coachella before the rest of the world figures out what’s hit ’em.
What’s the significance of Hanumankind’s name?
It merges the Hindu deity Hanuman (symbolizing courage) with “mankind,” reflecting his Indian roots and global ambitions.
Who produced Run It Up?
Kalmi, who also helmed his platinum hit Big Dawgs, with visuals by director Bijoy Shetty.
How does Kerala’s chenda feature in the track Run It Up?
The traditional drum adds a visceral, rhythmic backbone, blending South Indian folk with trap beats.
