Monsoon Season: Why Hanumankind is the Global Voice Hip-Hop Needs
Artwork by Vaishnav (@vaishnavmenonx) and OG GOJI (@goji__). Courtesy of Hanumankind
On Friday, July 25, 2025, the world was about to see an album that was never created on the intersection of underground and mainstream. I have only been listening to him since May, so I buckled up for this ride just like many of you. Monsoon Season is not just an album; it’s a story composed by hanumankind’s life, family, team, sacrifices, and all the above.
The Music: An Unfiltered Storm
The second I heard the first song, I knew this album represented his true personality and the criticism he had to go through, while acknowledging and confronting the haters instead of receiving them at the same time. The album opens with the aggressive energy of “Reckless,” where a flute weaves through an electronic breeze. Here, Denzel Curry, being nationally mainstream, presents his identity from South Florida and states he would metaphorically shoot all the haters down. Denzel was a staple for this track, a powerful artist of color like Hanumankind, ready for war.
Following the opener is the song that started it all: the original version of “Big Dawgs.” While it became a global phenomenon as a single long before this album, its placement here as the second track solidifies its importance to Hanumankind’s journey. Its raw energy serves as the true foundation for the album’s sound.
The theme of survival continues in “Goons,” where a non-traditional drum beat backs a story from the land of rich and poor. Maxo Kream’s feature perfectly complements this, with a focus on money and a declaration to “start a f***ing riot”.
On “Run It Up,” he feels the “weight of ancestors” and declares his mission to change the story for those who came before him, all over the thunder of Kerala drums.
Not only has he collaborated with highly known artists, but also South Asians in the underground scene, Roisee and Rudy Mukta.
On “Someone Told Me,” a track laced with flutes and heavy drums, Roisee speaks on the fine line between hero and villain, and the survivalist mentality of “kill or be killed my friend”. The collaboration with Mukta on “Cause” is an unstoppable, emotional core of the album, carried by a haunting piano and violin. It asks the listener, “what is yours, do you fight for a cause?” while acknowledging the losses and endless nights that come with the fight.
A surprising moment of tenderness comes in the interlude “29.11.23,” which features a loving voicemail in Malayalam, presumably from his mother, ending with “seri da, bye, love you”. This provides a brief, humanizing pause before the storm of the album’s second half.
Hanumankind performs in five of his own songs towards the end of the album: the title track Monsoon Season, Holiday, Villainous Freestyle, Sicko, and Run It Up.
My favorite had to be “Sicko,” where a ticking timer in the soundtrack emphasizes his core message: this is the one life he gets, and he may not get a chance to live it again.
The album closes with the remix of “Big Dawgs” featuring A$AP Rocky. It was a powerful lyrical statement from Rocky, and in the final 30 seconds, Hanumankind concludes by noting “HMK on the way”. If you ask me, this was the correct ending—a promise that the storm is far from over.
The Man: A Citizen of the World
Now, who is Hanumankind? Sooraj Cherukat, Born in Kozhikode, with his family’s roots in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, lived a complex childhood. He had to travel a lot because his father worked in the oil industry, and Sooraj was even called an “oil baby”. This habit made him feel like an outsider everywhere he went. In his youth, he lived in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt, Qatar, and other countries.
His family then moved to Houston, Texas when he was around nine years old, where he spent his youth from elementary through his first year of college. He was a local Houston kid and a Rockets fan. After one year of college in America, he made a pivotal choice: he moved back to India to finish his bachelor’s degree. It was there, after working conventional jobs at Goldman Sachs and as a personal trainer, that his seriousness for hip-hop was born at age 28. He never wanted to rap for a living, but after a journey of self-realization, he knew it was time.
The biggest reason he is where he’s at today is because of his connections, especially his core team. In 2024, he blew up after collaborating with Director Bijoy and producer Kalmi on the life-changing visualization for “Big Dawgs”. In early 2025, he had his second explosive recognition with “Run It Up”. His first show in the US was at Coachella 2025.
The Moment: Facing the Wave
Despite having millions of followers, Hanumankind hasn’t hit the mainstream in the way most people think. The reason is that he doesn’t make songs to attract a specific audience; he makes songs that define his journey, heritage, and independence.
Recently, on July 23, he confirmed via Instagram that he tore his ACL, sending shockwaves through his fanbase. But ironically, the album cover itself displays the journey he has to tackle next: sitting in front of a massive wave, metaphorically what he must face even after being so successful.
The cover was beautifully crafted by creative director @vaishnavmenox and artist @goji_.
]According to their post, the process involved generating animation with Midjourney, curating waves, and creating typography based on quintessential hand-painted type.
Conclusion
Personally, I believe he is still right in the intersection of mainstream and underground—not entirely unpopular, but not entirely recognized yet. The release of Monsoon Season on July 25, however, potentially changes the spectrum of his legacy. If you thought the lyrics were powerful, the instrumentals played a fantastic role, embracing his Indian American identity.
If there is anything that will show the world who Hanumankind is, it’s Monsoon Season.
Written By: Aravind Ganesh
I love how you described the first song of the album! The way you described it made me want to listen to the song myself. Your description of the artist was super clear as well! I would love to know more about your background with this artist!