Sooraj Cherukat didnt see a career in music as part of his five-year plan or any plan.
Even beyond the South Asian diaspora, theres a mutual admiration among fans for the breakthrough artist.
(Onecalled itThe HARDEST Music Video I Have EVER SEEN!)
Tanay Shetty*
I knew the video would have an impact though because we literally put our lives on the line.
We caught up with Hanumankind about his creative odyssey, hip-hop influences, personal style, and dream collaborations.
That must feel surreal.Its been crazy.
But Im just a rapper from India.
I get it I am from here.
But Im just someone thats making art from a different side of the world.
I have my own personal journey.
Globally, whats the response been like?Its been interesting for sure.
The love has been beautiful, and Im very grateful.
Thats OK. Its a part of the world that we live in.
I accept whatever it is.
Im filling that need to create in my soul and everything else is a byproduct of it.
No intention, no idea.
We just like making music.
This was the second of the two.
Now, of course, there were changes that we made as the song came to completion.
That is on us as artists to take pride in.
I love the art of putting together a visual and audio experience.
My boy Bijoy is an absolute champ.
He is someone that forces me to get out of my comfort zone.
Still, if were making something it has to be something were pushing ourselves to make.
But in the end, thats an easy reach.
We see this, we do this, we know we have access.
Randomly, we were running through ideas.
We stuck to the concept, and thats how the music video came to be.
I saw that he gave you a shoutout on Instagram, too.
When did you become a fan of his?I grew up listening to Three 6 Mafia.
Project Pat his flow is iconic.
So Project Pat has been doing this shit for years.
It is that prominent.
Critics are comparing your flow to the greats likeLil WayneandEminem.
Thats a UGK reference.
It was everything to be able to hear from these guys.
Its not like you suddenly know what to do.
Im taking it in stride, and it was a beautiful moment.
At the same time, this is an endeavor to find the best version of myself.
I think HMK is his own thing.
Why did you decide to shoot the music video in a well of death?
The well of death is called the well of death for a reason.
They do this numerous times throughout the day.
Its the risk factor, and its about what that implies.
Artists are out here contemplating or overthinking.
I could do this, I could do that.
Maybe this wont look good on me, maybe this wont sound good.
But if you dont take the risk, whos going to know?
Whos ever going to find out?
Thats what the video kind of implies as well.
It was only because of the performers that I believed I could do it.
But what is belief without actual execution?
A lot of things are happening in this video.
But mainly, if you want something, take that risk, man, or else it wont happen.
Even if you fail, its still the act of doing.
At the very least, if nothing worked out, Im happy about that.
The visuals go absolutely crazy.
The drone shot is nuts.
Thats all we could afford.
Its such a physically demanding shoot, I couldnt do it two days in a row.
These guys that do it every day they were making it look easy.
By the ninth or tenth time that I was in that car, I was projectile vomiting.
Everything I learned everything you saw on camera was me learning on the day of.
You cant practice stuff like this; I just had to go do it.
At the very end, in the credits, you see the first time I got into the car.
Thats why Im like I got it!
But, its like, I didnt get it.
I didnt really have it, to be honest.
What was the most difficult part of filming?There were a lot of complications for sure.
These are things that we didnt know until we got to the shoot.
The director is not inside with you he cant be, its very dangerous.
Only the people that are filming are in there with you.
But I think all of us were built for this.
Youve seen it in other videos, its not something thats a brand-new technique.
I practiced a couple of times, and then we captured that kind of effect.
I know it wasnt easy, we know how difficult it was to film.
Major shout-out to my boys, major shout-out to the fam.
I think my mamas prayers also came into play.
Switching gears, lets debunk the myth of an overnight success.
How did music become something that you are passionate about?Ive always loved music.
It was a source of inspiration throughout my childhood and specifically came from freestyling in high school.
It was something I did with my friends for fun and did not really take seriously.
It was a creative outlet and a way for me to express myself.
Without putting anything on paper, though, it was very for-the-moment.
I made that decision a little bit late in my life.
You dont suddenly reach that point where all things fall into place.
We had a bunch of obstacles along the way, but perseverance and love of the craft helped.
Now here I am continuing the same thing just trying to be a better version of myself every day.
Where does your rap name, Hanumankind, come from?Im not a very religious person at all.
I would say Im spiritual.
He puts it all on his chest.
From this side of the world, Hanuman is a name that so many people know.
Its something that everyone can associate with being Indian.
And mankind is the rest of the world.
It was a combination of both things.
To bring two things together in a way that ties into my purpose.
I know it can be tough to find your identity when you grow up wedged between two cultures.
Why did you decide to move back to India?Im still considered an NRI [Non-Resident Indian].
That doesnt really leave you because of the accent.
I tried, but I still sound very American.
The thing is, I speak Malayalam like a champ.
I am very fluent in my mother tongue.
Thats something thats helped me because I came here and built myself into the community.
These are my people.
I lived in Bangalore; I went to university here also for a bit.
I did my fair share of traveling and immersing myself at home in India.
At the end of 2012, I had the option of moving back to the United States.
I made the choice.
I wanted to spend time at home.
Its now been 12 years since, and its been beautiful.
There are a bunch of artists that have been killing it and have established their sounds.
Obviously when it comes to hip-hop, its about telling a story its rhythm in poetry.
As you know, its not just Hindi.
Though we are all from the same country there are different perspectives that each language brings.
Thats on a much larger scale over here.
Theres something very Freddie Mercury about your look.
Where do you get your personal style or fashion sense?I had no intention.
We were like, what would be comfortable.
What would be easy to move around in when youre inside a car going around the well.
We didnt have a fashion statement.
I love Queen and Freddie Mercury, dont get me wrong, its incredible music.
I also love that his roots are Indian and Parsi, but we had no idea.
A lot of things just fell in place.
None of this shit was planned.
Everything just came to be.
I just want to make music.
I want to push myself creatively, spiritually, mentally, everything.
I want to develop my art and do it the way I want to.
I know I can do better.
Theres so much more I can do.
This is not the peak of it all.
Im blessed to say that this happened, but these things come and go.
I have goals and dreams and aspirations of being a version of myself.
Remember, I started this by being like If I dont try this, it will affect me.
The next attempt is the same.
Everything that is a byproduct is just part of that journey.
Theres no intention to turn mainstream or not theres none of that.
If you like it, you like it.
If you dont, you dont.
I dont have any right to claim that it is this or that.
Im just someone who enjoys the art of creating, so well see how that goes.
OK, last question: Who would your dream collaboration be?Kendrick LamarandJ.
Coleare definitely up there.
I think hes phenomenal.
Denzel Curry and, also, Three 6 Mafia.
I love System of a Down.
Theres no definition of who or what.
Whatever I think is cool, Im gonna try.
Lets see, fingers crossed.
