Malayali rapper Hanumankind, who rose to international fame with his viral hit Big Dawgs, made a powerful debut at Coachella 2025, performing on the Mojave stage on April 13. He was joined by chenda drummers, Houston rapper Maxo Kream, and bandmates drummer Sange Wangchuk and guitarist Krishna M. Sujith.
Hanumankind Brings Indian Hip-Hop to Coachella With a Powerful Set
Taking the stage, Hanumankind opened with a dramatic entrance following a thunderous performance by the chenda players. The rapper quickly kicked into a high-energy set that included songs like Big Dawgs, Run It Up, Go To Sleep, and Rush Hour.
He said to the crowd, “It’s my first time performing a full set in the US. That fever’s hitting me hard.” He later said, “I couldn’t come this far and not bring you a gift from India,” before bringing the chenda drummers back onstage for a raw version of “Run It Up.”
He closed his set with the crowd favourite Big Dawgs, saying, “It’s an honour to perform for every single fucking one of you. Till next time, all right.” The visuals and stage design, inspired by The Art of War and his Indian roots, were created by New Delhi artist Aaquib Wani.
This follows Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, who made history in 2024 as the festival's first Indian performer.
Who Is Hanumankind?
Born as Sooraj Cherukat in Kerala, Hanumankind grew up in Houston, Texas, where his musical journey began. While living in the United States, he developed a deep appreciation for hip-hop, drawing inspiration from global icons like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Logic.
Cherukat returned to India in 2012 and pursued a degree in Business Administration at PSG College in Coimbatore. After completing an internship at Goldman Sachs in 2014, he joined the company as an operations analyst in 2017. However, the corporate world could not contain his artistic ambitions. He left his job to explore music, marking the beginning of his journey as Hanumankind.
The rapper’s stage name is a creative fusion of the Hindi word "Hanuman" and the English word "kind," symbolising "humankind." This distinct moniker reflects his artistic vision and cultural roots.
Musical Career
Hanumankind debuted with his EP Kalari, followed by the collaborative project Surface Level with Kalmi. His breakthrough came with the viral hit Big Dawgs, whose music video was directed by Bijoy Shetty, a frequent collaborator. The track was written, composed, and performed by Hanumankind and produced by Brown Crew Productions.
His albums include other popular tracks such as Genghis, Skyline, Damnson, Southside, and Rush Hour.
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